Join The Fight Against

Pancreatic Cancer

To the Editor:

Patrick Swayze was a shining star in Hollywood and will be missed by fans from around the world. His brave, public battle with pancreatic cancer provided hope for all those afflicted with this terrible disease.

For nearly two years he beat the odds stacked against him and brought awareness to the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In fact, 76 percent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis and the five-year survival rate is just five percent because there are no effective early detection tools or treatments for this disease. Despite these statistics, pancreatic cancer is the least funded among leading cancer killers in our country.

My father lost his yearlong battle with this disease April 2, 2008. Since then I have become an advocate for Pancreatic Cancer Research in conjunction with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). I am organizing the first annual Purple Stride Walk/Run November 1, 8:30 am, at the Danbury Fair Mall. I encourage everyone to get involved in the fight against pancreatic cancer. To register for this event visit www.pancan.org/purplestridedanbury or for more information email pancan09@gmail.com

We must take action to ensure scientific progress is made to give pancreatic cancer patients a fighting chance. We need our members of Congress to co-sponsor The Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act so that we will have the necessary funding to make true progress against this disease. This is critical now more than ever because the number of pancreatic cancer patients is projected to increase by 12 percent in 2009 and by 55 percent by 2030. 

Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Kristen Angell

Purple Stride Danbury Committee Chair

Governor’s Lane, Bethel                                       September 16, 2009