Thousands Join The Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer At PurpleStride New York City Walk/Run On April 12 At Prospect Park

MANHATTAN, N.Y., April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands will run and walk a 5K course to raise funds and awareness about pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, at PurpleStride New York City 2014 on April 12, 2014. 

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7052652-pancreatic-cancer-action-network-purplestride-new-york-city-walk-run 

The event will benefit 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.  Participants have their choice of participating in the timed run or making strides during the awareness walk on a 5K course winding through Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The event will include music and family friendly festivities throughout the day. Registration begins at 7:30 am and the event begins at 9:15 am.  To register, visit www.purplestride.org/ny.

The day will honor pancreatic cancer survivors like New York City resident Alicia Bertine. In April 2008, at the age of 23, Alicia was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After surgery and treatment Alicia beat the cancer, but has since battled two recurrences, and is still fighting. "The most important lesson cancer teaches you is to embrace your life and joy and to do it now," said Bertine. "I always focus on the positive and believe that what your mind can conceive, you can achieve."

Participants will also be striding as a tribute to those who have passed away from the disease like Dick Myers who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on his 66^th birthday a few short months after diagnosis. Dick's daughter Samantha, who lost her father just a month before he was to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, has since joined the fight against pancreatic cancer as Affiliate Coordinator for the New York City Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. As Captain of "Team Myers," Samantha will be joined by friends and family in honor of her father on event day.  

"We will be joining tens of thousands of people across the country that are taking part in more than 50 PurpleStride events this year and are proud to share one common goal – to end pancreatic cancer," said Myers. "We are striding in honor of the more than 46,000 Americans that will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and more than 39,000 that will die from the disease. Money raised helps fund personalized support for patients, their families and caregivers, as well as supporting research that will lead to better treatment options that will increase survival for pancreatic cancer patients."

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of all major cancers - 73 percent die within one year of diagnosis and the five-year survival rate is just six percent. Pancreatic cancer is anticipated to move from the fourth to the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States by 2020.

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

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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 change outcomes for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative — The Vision of Progress: Double the Survival for Pancreatic Cancer 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.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7052652-pancreatic-cancer-action-network-purplestride-new-york-city-walk-run

SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

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