PurpleStride Puget Sound 2017

This last Sunday, I was honored to participate in PurpleStride Puget Sound 2017. It is a 5k run and walk to raise support and awareness for pancreatic cancer. It was an event held in the beautiful Magnuson Park and presented by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

My friend, Brenda, asked me to take part in the event in memory of her Aunt Linda, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2015. I was thinking it was about time to run a 5k again, so I readily accepted. I registered for the run with the Love for Linda team and anticipated race day.

Finished the race!
Wage Hope against Pancreatic Cancer!
#PANCaware

It wasn't until I got to the event and began to listen to the message presented, that I became aware of the affects of this deadly disease. Pancreatic Cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers at just 9%. That number has increased by 3% since PurpleStride was founded in 2008, still it is unacceptably small to those affected by the disease.

Unfortunately, funding for pancreatic cancer is limited and likely to decrease if the Senate-approved National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passes. The provisions of this Act would weaken the ability for the Department of Defense to allocate high-risk, high-reward research grants through the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program. The purpose of this program is to advance treatment options and improve the lives of patients, very important and much needed objective.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has a goal to double the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020. Help them do that by taking action on this piece of legislation. Send a letter to your congress representative to prioritize lifesaving cancer research by using this template, sponsored by Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Congress acts when they know people like us care.

PurpleStride Puget Sound 2017 was a powerful and inspiring day. I was moved by the life and the love that surrounded me. I was motivated by survivor's stories, and the dedication of the family and friends who showed encouragement for the ones affected by this disease. Thanks to the amazing participants and teams, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network met and surpassed their fundraising goal of $325,000 to raise $369,000. It is a beautiful show of support that will give patients a better tomorrow and increase funding for more research, which paves the way for better, life-changing treatments.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. This year the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's focus is - Demand Better. For Patients. For Survival. I am thankful I accepted the invitation to experience the determination and support to Wage Hope to end pancreatic cancer. I intend to do some more research and continue to raise awareness for this deadly disease.