Pancreatic Cancer Let's Win Online Community Taps Finn Partners for PR Support

Pancreatic Cancer Coalition Rallies to Create Urgency Around Therapies

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Jun 07, 2016, 11:45 ET

NEW YORK, June 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Let's Win, an online pancreatic cancer patient community created to collect and share science-driven treatment options that go beyond the traditional "standard of care," has selected Finn Partners as its public relations agency of record (AOR).

The partnership draws on the Agency's health, patient-advocacy and media expertise for the national Let's Win introduction and ongoing support. Let's Win is created by a coalition that includes the Lustgarten Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and Project Purple Standup to Cancer.

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Finn Partners' initial assignment included serving as part of the team introducing Let's Win at the American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer in early May. The firm's continuing campaign will increase pancreatic cancer awareness and Let's Win as a first-of-its-kind crowd-sourcing platform enabling patients, doctors and researchers to share science-driven information on potentially life-saving treatments – a vital step in advancing science and patients' lifespans.

More than 53,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. The statistics are grim. Seventy-five percent present with advanced disease and die within a year; only eight percent survive more than five years.¹

"The standard of care does not inspire optimism when it comes to pancreatic cancer," said Anne Glauber, a Let's Win founder and pancreatic-cancer patient. "Pancreatic cancer diagnosis requires an engaged response and a quick connection to physicians committed to innovative therapeutic possibilities."

As a former managing partner at Finn Partners, Glauber was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in 2014. Her first challenge was finding information on possible life-extending treatments and connecting with physicians focusing on new approaches. She was determined to identify doctors who might prolong her life and the network of patients was one of the fastest routes to those goals.

According to Let's Win co-founder and Scientific Advisory Board Chair, Allyson Ocean, MD, associate professor of Clinical Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and associate attending physician in Gastrointestinal Oncology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, "There are new approaches to pancreatic cancer and one of the most important ways to advance innovation is to engage patients in the development process quickly. By participating in the clinical process, patients can make informed choices about options and, hopefully, extend survival and even overcome pancreatic cancer."

"Let's Win fills a void for people facing this deadly cancer. It mobilizes the patient advocacy, physician and research communities to reduce caregiver burden of conducting massive research to find better treatment options and help accelerate clinical trials that could lead to lifesaving advances," said Olivia Goodman, vice president, Finn Partners and account team lead. "Together with the Let's Win patient and physician communities, we see communications as part of the care pancreatic patients require."

About Let's Win:
Let's Win is a pancreatic cancer online community. It was created to collect and share science-driven treatment options that go beyond the traditional "standard of care." The site includes an interactive patient and family forum where patients describe their treatment plans; information on promising science; results from the latest clinical trials and comprehensive listing of new trials; and current pancreatic-cancer news. The Let's Win Scientific Advisory Board comprises world-renowned scientists and physicians leading cutting-edge research on pancreatic cancer. The initiative is supported by The Lustgarten Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and Project Purple Standup to Cancer, among others.

About Finn Partners, Inc.
Finn Partners was launched in late 2011 to realize Peter Finn's vision to create a leading communications agency dedicated to shaping a bold new future in which innovation and partnership are strong brand drivers. Finn Partners specializes in the full spectrum of public and corporate affairs services, including digital and social media. Practice areas include arts, consumer, CSR, education, health, technology and travel & lifestyle.

Since inception four years ago, Finn Partners has received six agency awards that are indicators of client and cultural leadership: "Best Midsize Agency" in 2015, "Best Agency to Work For" in 2013 and "Best New Agency" in 2012 from the Holmes Report and Midsize PR Firm of the Year in 2015 and Top Places to Work in PR in 2013 from PR News. Headquartered in New York City, the company has approximately 500 employees, with offices in Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Nashville, Paris, San Francisco and Washington D.C., and offers international capabilities through its own global network and PROI Worldwide. Find us at www.finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter @finnpartners.