The New York City Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Announces PurpleStride New York City, a 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 21st in Riverside Park

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Mar 20, 2012, 02:34 ET

NEW YORK, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York City Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure, announces PurpleStride New York City 2012. The 5K run/walk through New York City's Riverside Park will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2012 and start at 103rd Street & Riverside Drive. Honorary Chair and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Chief Ambassador of Hope, Lisa Niemi Swayze, will kick off the fundraising and awareness walk with a speech and start-line ribbon cutting.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111004/LA79914LOGO)

"PurpleStride New York City, planned entirely by local volunteers, is a day filled with hope and inspiration for participants while supporting important work being done by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network," stated Dawn Eig, Affiliate Coordinator. "We are thrilled to have Lisa Niemi join our efforts in New York City in honor of her husband, Patrick Swayze. She is an inspiration to all those who have been touched by pancreatic cancer."

Join special guest, Sopranos actor Dan Grimaldi and Amanda Drury, CNBC's Co-Anchor of Street Signs, who will be the Emcee for PurpleStride New York City. Pancreatic cancer survivors, loved ones, friends, and supporters are invited to attend the event which will include refreshments, live music and other family-friendly festivities throughout the day. Registration begins at 8:30am and the walk begins at 10am. To register, visit www.purplestride.org/newyorkcity.

PurpleStride New York City is among 50 PurpleStride events taking place this year in communities across the country where tens of thousands of people will make strides toward a cure for pancreatic cancer. PurpleStride events contribute millions of dollars toward the mission of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to advance research, support patients and create hope. Money raised helps fund personalized support for patients, their families and their caregivers. The events also support research grants and advocacy efforts to increase federal pancreatic cancer research funding.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and has the lowest relative survival rate among leading cancer killers. This devastating disease has claimed the lives of many public figures, including Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, actor Patrick Swayze, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Ralph Steinman, Carnegie Mellon University Professor Dr. Randy Pausch, actor Michael Landon, and opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

This year, nearly 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and more than 37,000 will die from the disease. The five-year relative survival rate is just six percent and has remained largely unchanged in the last forty years because early detection tools and effective treatments have yet to be developed. Despite these sobering statistics, approximately two percent of the National Cancer Institute's federal research funding is allocated to pancreatic cancer.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the New York City Affiliate, visit www.pancan.org.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative—The Vision of Progress: Double the Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate by 2020. Together, we can know, fight and end pancreatic cancer by intensifying our efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research, and advocate for dedicated federal research to advance early diagnostics, better treatments and increase chances of survival.

SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network