The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is accelerating the pace of research progress for one of the world’s deadliest cancers.
WILMINGTON (DE): The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is accelerating the pace of research progress for one of the world’s deadliest cancers. With an urgent mission to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients and double survival by 2020, the organization, founded in 1999, executes a bold and comprehensive strategy to Wage Hope through research, patient services, advocacy and community engagement.
The organization’s visionary goals, world-class programs and services, extensive grassroots network, patient-focused outcomes and advisory board of scientific and medical leaders, provide the critical backdrop to help pancreatic cancer patients today and create transformational change for all patients in the future.
Pancreatic cancer remains the nation’s toughest cancer, with a five-year survival of just 9 percent. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) has an urgent mission to improve outcomes for patients currently battling the disease and to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020.
Each year, more than 80,000 people in cities across the U.S. Wage Hope at PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer. Funds raised through this signature event support the organization’s key initiatives, including Precision PromiseSM, Know Your Tumor® and the Patient Registry.
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That’s what happened at the Wilmington Riverfront on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. where hundreds of people lined up at the start line to “Wage Hope”. PurpleStride Delaware was hosted by award winning Elvis tribute artist Bob Lougheed. The event, included kid-friendly activities and a purple play zone.
The Wilmington event is supported by national presenting sponsor Celgene; national gold sponsor AbbVie; gold sponsor Wild Smiles Dentistry for Kids, gold media sponsor WJBR, and bronze sponsor Delaware Ducks.
Dr. Jonathon Broudy is part of a research team from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He was in attendance and said, “this is too important of an issue, I’m looking around here and this is America, this is what were trying to fight for, and all we want is a little bit, just 2% of the MCI Pancan budget.
This is too impoirtant of an issue, Dr. jonathon Brody, Thomas Jefferson University
He also noted that by 2020, pancreatic cancer is going to be the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in this country.
Donna Stollings, spokesperson for the Delaware Affiliate, felt the heartbreaking effects of pancreatic cancer when she lost her husband Mark to the disease when he was only 37.
“Mark’s death was devastating and I needed a way to make sense of my loss,” Stollings said. “When I learned about Delaware’s first PurpleStride, I gathered my friends and we walked to honor his memory. It was my first 5K and I felt that I had found a way to make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Our story should have had a different ending, but now I can help rewrite the future of pancreatic cancer by raising awareness and funds that will advance research for the disease.”
