Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Home

Header Top Menu

  • Careers
  • Investors
  • News
    • Press Release Archive
    • Press Statements
    • Podcasts
      • The Antigen Podcast
      • Get Science Podcast
      • Diverse Perspectives Podcast
      • menopause: unmuted
      • Hemcast
    • Contact Media Relations
    • Press Kits & Downloads
      • Company Press Kit
      • Pfizer Oncology Press Kit
      • PSA Narrative
      • RA NarRAtive
      • Rare Disease Gene Therapy Press Kit
      • ATTR-Amyloidosis Press Kit
      • UC Narrative
      • Eczema Inside Out Press Kit
  • Partners
    • Discovery to Pre-candidate
      • Focus Areas
        • Therapeutic Areas
          • Internal Medicine
          • Inflammation and Immunology
          • Oncology
          • Rare Disease
          • Vaccines
        • Therapeutic Modalities and Technology Platforms
          • Drug Safety
          • Gene Therapy
          • Target Sciences
          • Precision Medicine
          • Medicinal Sciences
            • Biologics Product & Process Development
            • Biotherapeutics Discovery
            • Medicine Design
            • Small Molecule Product & Process Development
        • Emerging Science
          • DNA Damage Response
          • Microsatellite Repeat Expansions
          • Senescence
      • Partnering Models
    • Candidate Through Commercialization
      • Focus Areas
        • Internal Medicine
        • Inflammation and Immunology
        • Oncology
        • Rare Disease
        • Vaccines
        • Hospital
    • Pfizer CentreOne
    • Pfizer Ventures
      • Our portfolio

Healthcare Professionals

  • Healthcare Professionals

Connect with Us

  • Connect with Us
    • Email
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy (NEW)
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
  • Your Health

    • Healthy Living
      • Brain & Nervous System
      • Cardiovascular Health
      • Cold & Flu
      • Digestive Health
      • Healthier Aging
      • Living Tobacco Free
      • Men’s Health
      • Mental Health
      • Nutrition & Fitness
      • Pediatric Health
      • Respiratory Health
      • Skin Health
      • Vaccines & Prevention
      • Women’s Health

    • Disease & Condition
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular Diseases & Conditions
      • Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders
      • Immune System Diseases & Conditions
      • Infections & Infectious Diseases
      • Neurological Diseases & Conditions
      • Menopause
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccine-Related Conditions
      • Skin Diseases & Conditions
      • Atopic Dermatitis
      • Cardiovascular Disease
      • Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

    • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

    • Managing your health
      • Caregiving
      • Evaluating Health Information
      • Tracking Your Health
      • Your Medicines
      • Health Literacy

    • Wellness
    Hot Topics

    Maintaining Emotional Well-Being During COVID-19

    Emotional Well-Being Tips for People Living with Chronic Inflammatory Conditions During COVID-19
  • Our Science

    • Driven to Discover the cure

    • Focus Areas
      • Internal Medicine
      • Inflammation & Immunology
      • Oncology
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccines
      • Anti Infectives

    • Product Pipeline

    • Clinical Trials
      • Guide to Clinical Trials
      • Find a Trial
      • Expanded Access & Compassionate Use
      • Clinical Trials in Children
      • Partnering with Pfizer
      • Trial Data & Results
      • Research Integrity & Transparency
      • Diversity in Clinical Trials

    • R&D Platforms
      • Biosimilars
      • Gene Therapy
      • Medicinal Sciences
      • Precision Medicine
      • Maternal Immunization

    • Collaboration
      • Partner with Pfizer

    • Research sites

    • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Scientific Resources
    HOT TOPICS

    MRNA VS. CONVENTIONAL VACCINES

    What Makes an RNA Vaccine Different From a Conventional Vaccine?
  • Our People

    • Meet The Experts
      • Scientists
      • Internal Medicine – Metabolic Disease
      • Inflammation & Immunology
      • Oncology
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccines
      • Medical Professionals

    • The Journey

    • Leadership
      • Executives
      • Board Members
      • Company Fact Sheet

    • Diverse Perspectives
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Supplier Diversity
    HOT TOPICS

    Meet our new Chief Patient Officer, Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron

    dr_richardson_300x170.jpg

    Working Together to Empower Women

    VizagWomen_300x170.jpg

    • Hot Topics
  • Our Purpose

    • Commitment to Global Health
      • Expanding Access
      • Strengthening Health Systems
      • Providing Disaster & Humanitarian Relief
      • Unleashing the Power of Our Colleagues
      • Highlighting Individual Voices

    • Protecting People and the Environment
      • Pfizer's Green Journey
      • Product Stewardship
      • EHS Governance
      • EHS Supply Chain
      • Key Performance Indicators
      • Health & Safety
      • Human Rights

    • Positions on Health Policies
      • Ready for Cures
      • How does Pfizer price medicines?
      • Value of Medicines
      • Policy Positions
      • Creating Cures Through Facility Investments

    • Transparency
      • Working with Health Care Professionals
      • Transparency in Grants
      • Code of Conduct
      • Corporate Compliance
      • Sales and Marketing Compliance

    • Independent Grants
      • Competitive Grants Program
      • Independent Medical Education
      • Investigator Sponsored Research
      • Quality Improvement
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Grants

    • Contributions & Partnerships
      • Healthcare Charitable Contributions
      • Lobbying & Political Contributions
    HOT TOPICS

    Pfizer Women’s Resource Group

    Media Name: IWD_Pull_up_Banner_300x170.jpg

    • Hot Topics
  • Our Products

    • Product listing

    • How drugs are made
      • Branded vs. Generic
      • Biologics & Biosimilars
      • Commitment to Quality

    • Distributors
      • Pfizer Distributors
      • Greenstone Distributors

    • Medicine Safety
      • Reporting Adverse Events
      • Making Good Treatment Choices
      • Partnering With Patients
      • Health Literacy
      • Medicine Safety Tips for Patients
      • Counterfeiting
      • Unused Medicines

    • Safety Data Sheets

    • Medical Information Contacts

    • Pfizer Global Supply
    HOT TOPICS

    Universal vs. Single Payer Healthcare

    Media Name: universal_healthcare300x170.jpg
  • Careers

    • Working Here
      • Mission & Purpose
      • Culture
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Career Growth & Colleague Development
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Ensuring Corporate Responsibility
    • Search Jobs
    • Student & Early Career
      • Postdoctoral Program
      • US Summer Student Worker Program
      • Opportunities for Veterans
    • Pfizer365.com
    • Our Hiring & Recruiting Process
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Tips for Interviewing at Pfizer
    • Connect With Us
  • Investors

    • Investors Overview
      • Why Invest / Our Story
      • Prospective Investors
      • Fact Sheet
    • Events & Presentations
    • Financials
      • Quarterly Reports
      • Annual Reports
      • SEC Filings
      • Interactive Data Filings
    • Investor News
    • Stock Information
      • Historical Price Lookup
      • Investment Calculator
      • Historical Stock Chart & Data
      • Dividend & Split History
      • Stock FAQs
    • Governance
      • Board Committees and Charters
      • The Pfizer Board Policies
      • Corporate Governance FAQs
      • Contact Our Directors
    • Shareholder Services
      • Stock FAQs
      • Advisory Information
      • Cost Basis Calculator
  • News

    • Contact Media Relations
    • Podcasts
    • Press Kits & Downloads
    • Press Release Archive
    • Press Statements
  • Partners
  • Footer links

    • Footer Aside Section1
      • CAREER-SEEKERS
      • INVESTORS
      • News & Media
      • Partners
    • Footer Aside Section 2
      • Healthcare Professionals
      • Business To Business
      • Change Region
      • Sitemap
    • Footer Aside Section3
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Linkedin
      • Instagram
      • Youtube
    • Footer Aside Section4
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy

For Pfizer's Gertjan Ophorst, Completing the New York City Marathon Was a Dream Come True

For Pfizer's Gertjan Ophorst, Completing the New York City Marathon Was a Dream Come True
OUR PEOPLE/ For Pfizer's Gertjan Ophorst, Completing the New York City Marathon Was a Dream Come True
November 20, 2018

by Kate Silver

When Gertjan Ophorst completed the TCS NYC Marathon in early November, his finish time was more leisurely than past marathons he’d run. But that was exactly his goal: he wanted to bask in the race. “I was aware that this is very likely going to be my first and only New York City marathon, so I just needed to enjoy every step of it,” he says. It was about the experience, not the clock.

Ophorst, who lives in the Netherlands and is Senior Brand Manager for Hematology, International Developed Markets with Pfizer, was elated to have the opportunity to join in what he considers the “holy grail” of running. “It’s New York itself. It’s the Big Apple. It always sort of feels like the capital of the world,” says Ophorst. He’d dreamed of running through the storied streets—along avenues and past buildings that looked nearly as familiar as his own home town, thanks to countless movies, television shows and a couple of personal visits. He’d entered the lottery to run the world’s largest marathon in the past, but had no luck. So in the spring, he was giddy when Pfizer opened up a lottery of its own, offering 10 employees the chance to run on a Pfizer charity team benefitting the Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation.

The organization was founded by the Labrecque family in honor of Thomas Labrecque, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2000 and died eight weeks later. Labrecque was a member of the Pfizer Board of Directors, and he’d been in good health, never having smoked a cigarette when he was diagnosed. Today, the Foundation raises money to support lung-cancer research. While in New York, Ophorst even had the chance to have dinner with Thomas Labrecque Jr., the son of the foundation’s namesake and the leader of the organization. It was one of the many highlights of the trip.  

And then, of course, there was the main event. The marathon, itself, was more fulfilling, more heartening and more inspirational than Ophorst could have imagined. First, there were the sights—taking in the skyline views of Manhattan and running through the lush greenery of Central Park. But there was also something less tangible—a feeling that came with the experience. It was the cheering of the 2.5 million spectators, the surge of the adrenalin, the pride of seeing his own co-workers cheer him on and the knowledge that he was doing something for a greater purpose. “You suddenly realize that every step you take is not just for you, and not just for having fun,” he says. “To be able to do something for these patients and hopefully do something for curing these patients in the longer term, it made it extra special. I must say I was very proud to be a part of that.” Although Ophorst had completed five marathons before, none had a charitable connection, and that added gravitas to the event.

Ophorst finished with a time of 4:05. To his surprise, even though his race ended, the enthusiasm around the city didn’t. Everywhere he went, he says spectators shook his hand and congratulated him. He went to a coffee shop wearing his medal and was given free coffee. At dinner later that night, his server overheard that he’d run the marathon and gave him a discount on his bill. “The way that people make you feel like a hero, it is really spectacular,” he says. “It felt like I was an Olympic champion or something.”

Now that he’s returned to his home in the Netherlands and his sore muscles have started to relent, Ophorst says he’s starting to think about the next marathon. He likes the idea of running more races in different countries and seeing the world on two feet. Something he’s learned from his work with Pfizer is to live every day to its fullest. “You never know what’s going to happen, so you need to enjoy and do the things you can do now,” he says. He’s grateful that his work helped him arrive at that realization, and that it also enabled him to complete his most recent journey. 

To be able to do something for these patients and hopefully do something for curing these patients in the longer term, it made it extra special. I must say I was very proud to be a part of that.

Related Hot Topics
Albert Bourla On Ensuring Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
Albert Bourla On Ensuring Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
Advancing Health Equity & Social Justice Through Community Investment
Advancing Health Equity & Social Justice Through Community Investment
Pfizer_JonxPillemer_Kenya_2016-1355_380X200.jpg
The Pfizer Foundation Invests in Community-Based Solutions to Combat the Threat…
Moving at the Speed of Science
Moving at the Speed of Science
How Pfizer and BioNTech are Moving with Safety and Speed to Develop a Potential COVID-19 Vaccine
How Pfizer and BioNTech are Moving with Safety and Speed to Develop a Potential…
Collaborating to Provide Lifesaving Cancer Treatments to Patients in Africa
Collaborating to Provide Lifesaving Cancer Treatments to Patients in Africa
Pfizer Partners with Wellcome to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Pfizer Partners with Wellcome to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in Sub-Saharan…
Amid COVID-19 Global Pandemic, The Pfizer Foundation Helps IRC Pursue Urgent Expansion of Health Access in Humanitarian Settings
Amid COVID-19 Global Pandemic, The Pfizer Foundation Helps IRC Pursue Urgent…
Tags
Announcement News
Partnerships
Show
Hide

Footer menu

  • Your Health
    • Healthy Living
    • Disease Conditions
    • Manage Your Health
  • Our Science
    • Therapeutic Areas
    • Product Pipeline
    • Clinical Trials
    • R&D Platforms
    • Collaboration
    • Research SItes
  • Our People
    • Meet the Experts
    • The Journey
    • Leadership
    • Diverse Perspectives
  • Our Purpose
    • Commitment To Global Health
    • Positions on Health Policies
    • Transparency
    • Contributions & Partnerships
  • Our Products
    • Product Listing
    • How Drugs are Made
    • Distributors
    • Global Product Information Contacts

Footer aside

  • Footer Aside Section1
    • CAREER-SEEKERS
    • INVESTORS
    • News & Media
    • Partners
  • Footer Aside Section 2
    • Healthcare Professionals
    • Business To Business
    • Change Region
    • Sitemap
  • Footer Aside Section3
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Instagram
    • Youtube
  • Footer Aside Section4
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
Pfizer Logo Footer

Copyright © 2002-2021 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. This information—including product information—is intended only for residents of the United States.
The products discussed herein may have different labeling in different countries.