PurpleStride Milwaukee to Raise Funds, Awareness for Nation’s Toughest Cancer

Join WISN 12’s Sally Severson at PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer

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PurpleStride events raise awareness about the critical mission of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and give local residents the opportunity to help make strides toward a better future. The events also contribute millions of dollars toward our mission to advance research, support patients and create hope. Funds raised help provide personalized support for patients and support research grants and advocacy efforts to increase federal pancreatic cancer research funding.

MILWAUKEE--()--The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Milwaukee Affiliate invites everyone to participate at PurpleStride Milwaukee on June 24, at Miller Park. Each year, more than 80,000 people in cities across the United States Wage Hope at PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer.

The event will be hosted by WISN 12’s Emmy-winning meteorologist Sally Severson who has lost three immediate family members to the disease.

Pancreatic cancer is the nation’s toughest cancer with a five-year survival rate of just 9 percent, but there is hope. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is the largest pancreatic cancer organization and is working every day to attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy.

“The five-year survival rate has increased one percentage point over the past three years so we are moving in the right direction,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “However, our goal at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is to accelerate the rate of research progress so that we can more quickly move that needle. PurpleStride is allowing us to fund key initiatives that will ultimately allow us to improve patient outcomes and double survival by 2020.”

Since 2003, PanCAN has awarded 142 grants to 143 scientists at 55 institutions, totaling $35.4 million since 2003. In addition to supporting research grants, PanCAN supports key initiatives like Precision PromiseSM, Know Your Tumor® and the Patient Registry.

“I know we can create a better future for all pancreatic cancer patients if we all come together and focus on what we can do to stop this disease,” said Richard Novell, five-year pancreatic cancer survivor who lost his brother to the same disease. “PurpleStride gives us the opportunity to come together as a united front and raise funds that will be contributed towards research funding. If we can advance pancreatic cancer research, then we will create a better future for all pancreatic cancer patients.”

The Milwaukee event is supported by national presenting sponsor Celgene; national gold sponsor AbbVie; presenting sponsor Elevate; gold sponsor Cassandra’s Cure for Cancer Foundation, gold media sponsor WISN12, and silver media sponsor Clear Channel Outdoor.

To register, donate or learn more about PurpleStride Milwaukee, please visit www.purplestride.org/milwaukee. For more on PurpleStride and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, watch the PurpleStride PSA and the organization’s PSA.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. 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 survivor by 2020.

Contacts

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Kylee Burkholder, 310-706-3516
kburkholder@pancan.org
or
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – Milwaukee Affiliate
Steve Lipshetz, 262-352-1203
slipshetz@pancanvolunteer.org

Release Summary

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Milwaukee Affiliate invites everyone to participate at PurpleStride Milwaukee on June 24, at Miller Park.

Contacts

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Kylee Burkholder, 310-706-3516
kburkholder@pancan.org
or
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – Milwaukee Affiliate
Steve Lipshetz, 262-352-1203
slipshetz@pancanvolunteer.org