PurpleStride walk to end pancreatic cancer

Event supports Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s urgent mission to save lives, double pancreatic cancer survival

Hundreds will run/walk to end pancreatic cancer, the world’s toughest cancer, at PurpleStride Western New York (http://pcan.at/PSWNY19 ) on Sept. 28. The community event presented by M&T Bank is hosted by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Western New York Affiliate.

Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading-cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., with a five-year survival rate of just 9%.

In order to save lives and double pancreatic cancer survival, PanCAN urges the Western New York community to join PurpleStride. Funds raised through the event support critical research, clinical initiatives and patient services, including Know Your Tumor, Precision Promise, clinical trial finder and the patient registry.

The WNY PurpleStride Affiliate was launched in January 2018 by Chairwoman Lynne Jakubowski. Within five years, Jakubowski lost her husband, brother and cousin to the disease. Her experience is indicative of the fact the 5-year survival rate stands at 9% and fueled her passion to change this statistic.

“It is incredibly important that we raise awareness and funds to help improve the outcomes for those battling the disease. Early detection is critical so that patients have better treatment options, the opportunity for a longer life, and ultimately a cure. PurpleStride gives us a chance to increase visibility within the WNY community and raise the funds to make this happen.”

PurpleStride Western New York will take place at Buffalo RiverWorks and will be hosted by WGRZ anchor Scott Levin. The event is supported by national presenting sponsor Celgene, local presenting sponsor M&T Bank, national gold sponsors AbbVie and Ipsen, local gold sponsors: Independent Health, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center , Broadstone Real Estate, LLC and the Czarnecki Family in honor of Mark Czarnecki and John Jakubowski; and gold media sponsor WGRZ.

To register, donate or learn more about PurpleStride Western New York, visit http://purplestride.org/westernnewyork.

To learn more about PanCAN and its signature walk PurpleStride, watch the PurpleStride PSA and the History of PanCAN. Follow PanCAN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. A press release stated, “In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and to double pancreatic cancer survival.”