PERSONAL STORIES MATTER! SHARE YOURS HERE. by PanCAN

For my dear friend Vicki

pancan — 2020-09-18 18:19:13 UTC

Vicki was diagnosed in June 2019, entered a clinical trial and fought with such heart and bravery. She died on Jan 1st, 2020 at 63 years young. I miss her so much. My friends and I are running a marathon in her honor and to raise funds for PanCan - reading these stories broke my heart but lifted my spirits. One day we will find a cure.

Let 10% Become 100%

pancan — 2020-09-18 18:19:13 UTC

I am surviving, I was diagnosed 9/15/19. Fortunately my stage 2 tumor was in the head/neck of my pancreas and I underwent Whipple Surgery 10/3/19. After 7 Folfirinox chemo treatments, my liver was suffering so we stopped chemo. So far, I've had 2 clear scans. I pray to be in the very small group of those whose cancer never returns. And I pray that the 10% five year survival rate grows to 100%. Thank you PanCAN!

For My Grandmother Martina

2020-09-23 03:33:54 UTC

My family lost its matriarch, my grandmother Martina, to pancreatic cancer in 2017.

In her giving spirit, we want to give back to other families affected by this horrendous disease. We hope to give them the chance of survival that we didn't have by raising awareness and money toward early detection, clinical trials, and hopefully a cure one day.

Help us increase pancreatic cancer survival rates.

2020-10-08 22:16:56 UTC

For my Grandfather, Patrick!
My family lost a devoted husband, beloved father of 4, and beloved grandfather of 15 to Pancreatic Cancer.

Everyone who knew my grandfather loved him! He was kind and generous with his time and everyone knew him as the friendliest person around. He always thought of other fast. He was steadfast in his belief in God and his belief in keeping your eye on the prize and the positive. No one could find a bad thing to say about him. He worked incredibly hard for his family. He was an incredible gift to the world, I stride because I know that he would want me to ensure that his death helps others!

I love you Grumps!

For my Pops and Art

2020-10-15 17:58:17 UTC

I walk for my Dad who lost his battle 14 years ago. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. He would be so proud of what his children and grandkids have accomplished since he has been gone and oh how he would be in awe of his great grandkids

Love you Pops.

For Art

2020-10-15 18:12:44 UTC

One of my oldest and dearest friends is suffering right now watching her husband fight this disease. We have to do better by Art and everyone else afflicted. Keep fighting Art. We are here for you

For my Mom 💕

2020-10-16 17:26:11 UTC

In Nov 2018, 4 months after my Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my friends and I did the PurpleStride walk to raise money for this great organization which provided my family with so many resources and information in our journey through hell, to help researchers have more funding to find a cure, and most importantly, to help my Mom FIND HOPE. Hope is something that is very difficult for pancreatic cancer patients & their families to find. There are so many horrible statistics and horrible stories out there. That makes the battle even more difficult than it already is. My mom fought hard but only 3 months later lost her battle. I didn’t do the walk last year because I was just too bitter and devastated, which I still am, but I want to get back into the fight in her memory to help find hope for patients and families going through this and to help get us another step closer to finding a cure for this horrible disease.
💜💜💜

World Pancreatic Day

2020-10-18 12:10:45 UTC

20 year pancreatic cancer survivor Mike Fitzpatrick will be honoring all who are suffering from this terrible monster called Pancreatic Cancer around the World. On Thursday Nov 19th I will be raising awareness and funds by walking 26 Miles from Boca Raton to Hollywood FL to honor friends who have passed like my Friend Janet Lee Ellis

We fight for our loved ones!

2020-10-22 22:14:15 UTC

I walk for my grandfather "Grumps"

2020-10-28 21:50:15 UTC

My name is Kaitlyn Cocuzzo. I walk in honor of grandfather Patrick Lundy, beloved father of 4, and grandfather of 15 who we lost to pancreatic cancer in March 2019. For my grandfather, there was no greater joy than his family. He would be the first to tell anyone that of his 7 siblings, he had the most grandchildren, which he saw as the ultimately measure of success.
My grandfather was the most loving, compassionate and giving person I have ever met. Former friends and workers of him came through in the 100s when he became sick, each with a story of a special way he helped them. To his grandchildren, he was the model of unconditional love. From the time i was young, he was supportive of me and my aspirations to be a doctor. He encouraged me every step of the way.
My grandfather had the strongest faith of any person I ever known. When we were young, he taught each of his grandchildren how to pray (including bribing us with a later bedtime if we stayed up to pray the rosary. As we grew older, he taught us what it meant to live a life of prayer. As he was in the hospital recovering from one of his treatments, he asked the family to pray for his roommate. On my last visit with him, his concern was for me. For my dogs, and for my education, and all the challenges I was facing. Thats who he was, always thinking of someone else. He was loving and committed caretaker to my grandma for 8 year of her illness, visiting her nursing home each day. He was a man of faith, and unshakable values. He taught us to pray, and to live a life for God and others.
As my Uncle so fittingly put it in his eulogy, "God, Country, Family, that's what he was all about"
I stride for my Grumps, today and everyday <3

For my dad Ron

2020-11-03 03:59:46 UTC

My father was a prolong diabetic type ii for over 15 years since I was a young child. I am his only biological daughter and child. I miss him everyday and we were super close. My father was originally from Randolph, MA. He was a very hard worker working long hours everyday with only one day off a week. He struggled alot not only with his other illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney issues and even without knowing pancreatic cancer. He was misdiagnosed and was told he had the flu. It turned out he had only three months to live and found out it was stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Just like that. Utter shock to my mom, him and I. He didn't survive. He died within 10 days in hospice. He died at age 58 years old in Dec 2010 few days after Christmas. I don't know how I survived to continue to arrange a funeral with no money behind me. I am thankful finally very few great aunts and uncles donated to the funeral costs. But, it was shock to everyone. I miss him so much. I don't think a young adult should ever experience the loss of their parent so young. We were super close my mom, dad and I. I've been donating to pancreatic cancer, did the volunteer walk in the past in memory of my dad, and now participating in fundraising for virtual zoom. I hope someday we do find more information on this terrible disease. I was blindsided by it. But, I know now that my dad is not suffering anymore. - Rhonda Shuman

Fighting for my mom!

2020-11-15 18:10:43 UTC

My mom was so important to our family! We miss her terribly! 1997 she lost her short battle to PC! She was an amazing, giving, loving person who gave so much of herself to all. That is why I stride!