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Table of Contents
A Letter from Our Founder
A Letter from our President and CEO
Big Impact for Patients and Families
You Turned a Big Dream into the Biggest Fundraising Event of the Year
Big Support Leads to Big Progress
Big Dreams, Big Accomplishments
Waging Hope in a Big Way
Believing Big in the Next Generation
Big Advancements in Precision Medicine
A Big Brother Inspires a Lasting Legacy
Big Voices Demand Change in Congress
A Big Thanks to Our PanCAN Ambassadors
Industry Supporters
Introducing the Health Equity Committee
Boards and Councils
Financials
25 Ways You Can Make a Big Impact
Dear Dreamer,
It is a wonderful gift to be able to DREAM BIG. But dreaming is not enough. If you don't also BELIEVE BIG and know that your dreams are possible, they aren't. Dream big. Believe big. DO BIG!
Twenty-five years ago, my dream – to have a place where people facing pancreatic cancer could find helpful information, resources and hope, which would lead to improved patient survival – was taking shape. With my mother's journey as my inspiration, and with a growing number of like-minded big dreamers and believers, I knew we'd do it.
There were people who said we couldn't. That the pancreatic cancer statistics couldn't be changed. We tuned out those voices out and today, more of you continue to join the incredible PanCAN movement. Our community is thriving. Pancreatic cancer patients are today over three times more likely to survive past five years than when we began our work. PanCAN is creating transformational progress for patients.
I remain awestruck by your commitment and passion. When there was no one for pancreatic cancer patients and their families to turn to, you built a community.
Marilyn Myrow is part of that community. Her late husband is her reason for dreaming, believing and doing. Marilyn has donated every year since PanCAN was founded. Cynthia Stroum also has been involved since the beginning, inspired by her late father. Cynthia was the first chair of PanCAN's Board of Directors and has been a donor since the very beginning. She continues to inspire others with her leadership and generosity.
I'm so grateful for each of you. Your gifts to PanCAN mean that more people are benefiting from PanCAN Patient Services. More investigators are in pursuit of new treatments. More people are discovering how PanCAN can help them. More survivor stories are inspiring others.
I hope you are proud of all you've done for people facing pancreatic cancer and are as eager as I am to see what we can do together in the next 25 years.
Dream, believe, do. Let's go!
Pamela Acosta Marquardt
Founder
Dear Friend,
I feel the warmth and incredible spirit of the PanCAN community every day – from the researchers making groundbreaking discoveries, to the amazing supporters fueling our mission, to the survivors, caregivers and families who share their inspirational stories so that no patient has to feel alone.
Our community lifts me up, brings me joy, fills me with gratitude and inspires me to fight even harder for every individual touched by pancreatic cancer today and for all those who will face it in the future.
Twenty-five years ago, this community – PanCAN – was only a vision, a dream. Today, I am proud that PanCAN is at the center of this vibrant, diverse and committed community that has been and will continue to be the catalyst for every moment of extraordinary progress realized for this disease.
The cumulative $235 million PanCAN has invested in research (thanks to your generosity!) and the more than 1,185% increase in federal funding for pancreatic cancer research (thanks to your advocacy!) has galvanized the scientific community. Over a quarter of a million patients and families have received one-to-one help through PanCAN Patient Services. All made possible by you.
By standing together, we are changing the story of this disease. And I'm so excited about what's next.
I see a not-too-distant future where patients with pancreatic cancer have access to the full power and promise of precision medicine. A future where we can identify those most at risk for pancreatic cancer and reliably screen them for the disease, vastly improving survival. A future where no one faces pancreatic cancer alone, where every patient has a team of experts at their side.
This future is in sight because of the community we've built together. We are ready for our next greatest challenge. Right now, pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. We must improve the odds — and we will, thanks to all of you.
An incredible group of people with a sense of purpose and passion dreaming big, believing big and making big things happen. That's what PanCAN is all about. Thank you.
Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA
President and CEO
Big Impact for Patients and Families
“I believe that my interactions with Patient Services gave me confidence in my decision making. I do not and did not second-guess my decisions.”
Betty Cole, survivor
Patients with pancreatic cancer and their loved ones turn to PanCAN Patient Services for free, in-depth and personalized information on pancreatic cancer. We provide more resources and speak with more pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers than any other organization in the world — and we couldn't do it without you.
Overcoming Barriers
You make it possible for PanCAN Patient Services to help every patient and caregiver affected by pancreatic cancer, no matter what obstacles they face. We recently introduced a new program to provide extra hands-on support for people experiencing barriers to care. Two PanCAN Patient Services Navigators now complement our expert team of Case Managers, helping to address challenges in the healthcare system that, for some, make a life-changing diagnosis even more difficult. In the past year, the Navigators have offered help in both Spanish and English to almost 200 patients with complex needs. They've helped people enroll in clinical trials, access biomarker and genetic testing and more, with a goal to improve outcomes for everyone facing this disease.
“My hope is to make the healthcare journey smooth and less overwhelming for patients facing barriers to care by providing support and relevant resources, and by doing outreach on their behalf.”
Brianne Flores, PanCAN Patient Services Navigator
PanCAN en Español
PanCAN's educational materials provide patients, their caregivers and loved ones with invaluable information on a range of topics in easy-to-understand language. Now some of our most requested resources are available in Spanish. We also have a team of Case Managers ready to offer support and answer questions from Spanish-speaking patients and their loved ones. And thanks to your generosity, many more resources are in development.
You Turned a Big Dream into the Biggest Fundraising Event of the Year!
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, more than 62,500 of you showed up to take steps at PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer. Together, at nearly 60 events across the nation, you raised more than $16.7 million to support everyone impacted by the disease! A special thanks to the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation in memory of Daniel J. Kobasic and the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation for their generosity. Their PurpleStride matching gift campaigns paved the way for another successful year of fundraising to keep vital PanCAN programs running. When we work together, we can do BIG things!
Big Support Leads to Big Progress
The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation has been committed to advancing progress in pancreatic cancer research since 2017, when Daniel, the Kobasic family patriarch, passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 71. Since 2020, the Foundation has funded a Catalyst Research Grant Award, invested in PanCAN's Early Detection and Treatment Fund and generously supported PanCAN PurpleStride events throughout the country, with their contributions totaling more than $600,000.
This year, the Foundation also funded a $100,000 match for PanCAN PurpleStride, which raised five times the match, inspiring an additional $500,000 in fundraising.
Sisters Krystal Kobasic and Danica Stanciu continue to build an extraordinary legacy of hope in honor of their father, Daniel.
“We are so encouraged by the progress being made in the fight against pancreatic cancer! The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation is proud to support PanCAN's early detection initiatives and its work supporting those facing this disease and their caregivers.”
Danica Stanciu
Big Dreams, Big Accomplishments!
Christina DePippo
I stride for… my mom, Cecilia.
How did it feel to be a Top 10 Fundraiser for PurpleStride Los Angeles? Absolutely incredible. This is a cause very dear to my heart and I am beyond grateful for those who helped me reach these milestones.
What are your big dreams for PurpleStride 2025?
Raise $50,000+ for “TEAM POSITIVE VIBES ONLY!”
Armmon Carter
I stride for… my cousin, Congressman John Lewis.
I take steps at PanCAN PurpleStride because… it is a relentless disease that takes too many lives too soon. PurpleStride aligns with the John R. Lewis Legacy Institute's mission to make impactful change and also honors John's enduring legacy.
What are your big dreams for PurpleStride 2025?
To see even greater participation and fundraising efforts… more awareness of the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Alison Takacs
I stride for… my husband, Jim.
I take steps at PurpleStride because… I know how much every dollar matters to the scientists striving to find early detection methods and more treatment options.
I've attended…
14 PurpleStride events in four cities!
Nicole Tark
I stride for… my dad.
This was the first PurpleStride for team “You Can Do It Howie!” and you placed in the Top 10 nationwide and #1 at PurpleStride New York City – how did it feel? AMAZING. It gives us so much hope to have an incredible support system.
What are your big dreams for PurpleStride 2025?
Being there with our dad again, with our amazing support system, raising even more funds to make a difference.
Charles Felder, Sydney Felder & Erinn Gales
I stride for… Katie, who was my wife, Sydney's mother and Erinn's aunt. – Charles
How did you get involved with PurpleStride? My aunt Katie and uncle Charles were receiving support from PanCAN. After she passed, we decided to get involved, get a team going and raise money. – Erinn
My best PurpleStride fundraising tip is…
Be honest! Share why YOU care, what you're excited about and even what scares you. – Sydney
What are your big dreams for PurpleStride 2025?
To see a major announcement about the end of this disease. – Charles
Waging Hope in a Big Way!
PanCAN continues to expand our Endurance Event program, as Official Charity Partners for the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon and the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon, with 17 runners raising more than $73,000. And this year, we launched Team PanCAN YOUR Way to support people who are fundraising through marathons, triathlons and half-marathons in their own communities.
The Granberry family's personal connection to PanCAN began 25 years ago when their father, Hank, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, his family held the inaugural Hank Granberry Charity Classic Golf Tournament to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research in his honor. The tournament has become an inspiration for their Dallas community — a “can't-miss” event.
This year was the 25th anniversary of the tournament, which for the second year in a row raised $100,000. And it's only one part of the exceptional and enduring commitment the family and their company, Graphic Solutions Group, have made to ending pancreatic cancer. Their corporate engagement also includes a generous gift to power PanCAN's vital patient programs and support the company's enthusiastic participation in PanCAN PurpleStride. Graphic Solutions Group has sponsored PurpleStride Dallas-Fort Worth for two years and this year, fielded teams at 16 events, comprising of employees and their families from each of their locations. The Granberry family has our heartfelt gratitude for their extraordinary generosity — in total, nearly $600,000.
“Over the years, we've heard so many personal stories from our customers, vendors and friends of the GSG family about how this terrible disease has affected them. They're grateful we continue to raise awareness and carry on their loved ones' memories.”
Mark Granberry, GSG Chief Executive Officer
Total DIY fundraising, including Wage Hope My Way events and tribute pages, social media fundraising and endurance events.
Wage Hope My Way events, tribute pages and endurance events.
Twenty-five years ago, pancreatic cancer research received little investment. Many believed the challenges the disease posed were too great and that breakthroughs weren't possible. PanCAN saw it differently. We decided that patients and families deserve better. We asked you – our community – to join us in funding more research and today, the pancreatic cancer research field is thriving. Many of the grantees we've funded are now leaders in the field – mentoring the next generation and spurring incredible progress.
Improving Patient Outcomes Today
through educational campaigns for the public and healthcare professionals.
During Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, PanCAN raised awareness of symptoms, risk factors and the latest research on early detection through a public service announcement, community toolkit, a World Pancreatic Cancer Day webinar and more.
“If you have symptoms, get them checked out. Early detection can save your life.”
JR White, survivor, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month campaign ambassador
And in the Future
by piloting solutions to ensure early detection strategies and faster, more efficient development of novel therapies.
PanCAN's Early Detection Initiative explores the connection between new-onset diabetes and pancreatic cancer, with a goal to develop a way to detect pancreatic cancer earlier in patients at high risk, increasing the likelihood it can be surgically removed.
Through the SPARK health data platform, PanCAN breaks down barriers to pancreatic cancer research by making real-world de-identified patient data accessible for scientists across the country.
PanCAN's strategic alliance with the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR) heralds the next phase for our groundbreaking Precision PromiseSM clinical trial platform. PanCAN serves as the patient advocacy partner for GCAR's work. This new alliance optimizes efficiencies so PanCAN can continue to invest in other areas of unmet need across the pancreatic cancer research field.
Big Advancements in
Precision Medicine
Know Your Tumor® Powerful Knowledge. Personalized Treatment.
When PanCAN launched the Know Your Tumor precision medicine service in 2014, we didn't know whether biomarker and genetic testing would be beneficial to patients facing pancreatic cancer. Ten years later, thanks to our visionary donors, we now know that the answer is a resounding “yes.” The evidence is so clear that national pancreatic cancer guidelines now recommend genetic and biomarker testing, opening the door to insurance coverage. This unlocks the power of precision medicine to more patients – today and in the future.
A Big Brother Inspires a Lasting Legacy
Rob Carmean and his brother John were always close, with similarities in appearance, interests and sense of humor. They spent many summers on Ohio's Lake Erie, catching perch and walleye, swapping stories and sharing experiences. Their bond got stronger in March 2022, when John shared that he had pancreatic cancer. Over the next five months, Rob spent most weekends with John, helping him tidy up the house, buy groceries and do other errands — sometimes even indulging with John in his favorite soda from a nearby country store.
It was important that we always save time for fun,” Rob said. “Sometimes we'd just hang out in John's garage, me sitting on his John Deere mower, and he in a lawn chair. He would ask me jokingly, ‘Do you know how to ride that thing?”
Rob will never get over the sting of his brother's death that August. John missed his daughter's wedding, as well as countless humorous moments, family time, old-timey sodas and chats about life.
After John died, Rob and their sister had a garage sale and sent the money to PanCAN.
“I've continued to donate to PanCAN because I believe in the mission, educational resources, the help they provide patients and families, and the research they fund,” Rob said. “They're a positive driving force in working to beat this disease.”
Rob is also leaving a gift to PanCAN in his will in hopes that one day other people with pancreatic cancer will have more time than John did.
“I wish I had had five more years with him, instead of just five more months. The survival rate is going up but there's a long way to go and I — like many other people — want to see it get much higher, like 80%. With enough of us donating our time and money, we will.”
Rob Carmean, family member
Big Voices Demand Change in Congress
For 25 years, PanCAN has built a vibrant and diverse community who use their voices to make progress against pancreatic cancer on Capitol Hill. Thanks to the work of advocates like you and the support of Congressional champions like Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Terri Sewell (D-AL), our efforts have resulted in a 1,185%+ increase in federal funding for the pancreatic research community since 1999.
Rep. Eshoo lost a close friend to pancreatic cancer and has been a guiding light in the bipartisan endeavor to improve outcomes for everyone impacted by the disease. She's partnered with PanCAN in the halls of Congress to fight for a better future for those affected.
With every win, Rep. Eshoo has acknowledged the power of the PanCAN community — “I made my commitment to this [disease] and joined all of you. You are a force of nature across the country. Know that!”
“Having Rep. Sewell attend and speak at PurpleStride gave us an uplift of hope that we have someone who was personally affected by pancreatic cancer ‘in our corner' in the fight to obtain more government funding,”
Kathy Polk, survivor
Rep. Eshoo will retire at the end of 2024 after 32 remarkable years in Congress. Pancreatic cancer survivor Diane Borrison, who attended the 2020 State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., as a guest of Rep. Eshoo, speaks for all of us when she says, “Thank you, Anna Eshoo, and well done! YOU have saved thousands of lives and will continue to do so even after your well-deserved retirement.”
Rep. Sewell, who lost her mother to the disease, continues to demand more. In addition to pushing for increased federal funding for pancreatic cancer research, Rep. Sewell used her platform to raise awareness of the higher incidence rate in Black Americans. She spoke at PanCAN PurpleStride Alabama 2024, and declared: “In Congress, I have made it my mission to reduce the glaring racial disparities in this disease.” Thank you, Rep. Sewell!
By working together, we can make a big impact and change the story of this disease for everyone.
A Big Thanks to Our
PanCAN Ambassadors
Big names help spread big awareness about pancreatic cancer and the ways PanCAN can help people impacted by the disease. A big thank you to our new and longtime ambassadors who used their spotlight this year to shine attention on our work.
Because of their involvement – attending PurpleStride, posting on social media, discussing PanCAN in media interviews, appearing in our campaigns and more – we welcomed new members into our community who were able to get the support they needed and deserved.
Using Her Platform in a Big Way
There she is, Miss America 2024, Madison Marsh – the first active-duty service member to win the coveted crown – taking steps to end pancreatic cancer. This year, Madison spoke at PurpleStride New York City about her mom, Whitney, who passed away from pancreatic cancer, and the serious need for progress against the disease.
“Pancreatic cancer is a tough disease. There is no time or money to waste… People need change now. We need more money going to research. We need people who are ready to rally behind others. Together with PanCAN, we can all make a difference. Every penny. Every second counts for patients.”
Miss America 2024, Madison Marsh, speaking at PurpleStride New York City
A special thanks to PurpleStride team “Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer.” Their efforts this year broke records, making them the highest-grossing team in PurpleStride history, raising nearly $250,000 to support those affected by pancreatic cancer.
We're Incredibly Grateful for Our Ambassadors' Support This Year
John Billingsley*
Dean Butler
Judge Frank Caprio
Juan Carlos Coto*
Rosario Dawson
Jonathan Frakes*
Dan Fogelman
Melissa Gilbert
Lindsay Greenbush
Sidney Greenbush
Eric Idle
Mindy Kaling
Sean Landon
Shawna Landon
Michael Landon Jr.
Leslie Landon Matthews
Madison Marsh
Laurie McGuane
Maria Menounos
Lisa Niemi Swayze
Brad Rutter
Armin Shimerman*
Kitty Swink*
Katie Springer Yenkin and the entire Jerry Springer family
Ty Young
*”Team Trek” Member
From the very beginning, our Industry Partners have been aligned with our patient-centric mission, providing crucial funding for programs, resources, services and community.
PanCAN is grounded in a culture that stands for equality, equity, diversity and inclusion for everyone — our employees, volunteers, partners and constituents. Health equity is at the heart of everything we do.
The Health Equity Committee advises PanCAN on the development of goals and initiatives within our communities, and on ways to improve the health of those disproportionately impacted by pancreatic cancer, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities.
With the guidance of this committee, our goal is to one day eliminate health disparities, advancing health equity for all those impacted by the disease.
Caroline Brown
Bank of America
Joy D. Calloway, MBA, MHSA
National Medical Association
Courtney Cartrette
PanCAN LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group
Teona Ducre
PanCAN Survivor Council Alumnus
Fabienne Ehivet, MS, CGC
Emory Winship Cancer Institute
Daniel Carlos Hughes, PhD
University of Texas Health – San Antonio
Craig Irving
American Airlines
Mimi Leonard
PanCAN Volunteer Advisory Council
Jerrick Lewis
The John R. Lewis Legacy Institute
Garry Lowe
The John R. Lewis Legacy Institute
Tanieka Mason, MPH
Tower Health, Reading Hospital
Marcus Noel, MD
PanCAN Scientific and Medical Advisory Board
Benjamin Perkins
Upstream Impact Solutions Consulting
Nicolette Rodriguez, MD, MPH
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Rabbi Zach Shapiro
Temple Akiba
Deborah Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE-BC, CDE, FAAN
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.
Saundra Thomas
SPT Consults
Jose Trevino, MD, FACS
Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center
Bishop Rex Waddell, MA, PhD
Church of the Living God
Rod Williams, MBA
PanCAN Board of Directors
PanCAN Volunteer Leadership
Board of Directors
Karen Young
Chair
Linda E. Amuso
Vice Chair
Jay T. Backstrom, MD, MPH
Sharon Bittman
Preston Brice
Peter Cashion
Dennis Cronin
Julie M. Fleshman, JD, MBA
President & CEO
Rich Hume
Barbara J. Kenner, PhD
Lisa Kulok
Eric Park, CPA
Craig A. Rogerson
Mace Rothenberg, MD
Nicole Rubin
Nancy Stagliano, PhD
Karyn A. Temple
Rod Williams, MBA
Scientific & Medical Advisory Board
Eileen M. O'Reilly, MD
Chair
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD
Vice Chair
University of Pennsylvania
Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD
Perlmutter Cancer Center/NYU Langone Health
Jordan Berlin, MD
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Jonathan Brody, PhD
Oregon Health & Science University
Suresh Chari, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
E. Gabriela Chiorean, MD, FASCO
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Eric A. Collisson, MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Howard Crawford, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
Efrat Dotan, MD
Henry Ford Health
Andrew Hendifar, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Sunil Hingorani, MD, PhD
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Michael Hollingsworth, PhD
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Peter Hosein, MD
University of Miami
Alison Klein, MHS, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Steven Leach, MD
Dartmouth
Andrew M. Lowy, MD, FACS
University of California, San Diego
Nipun Merchant, MD
University of Miami
Jeannine Mills, MS, RD, CSO, LD
Dartmouth
Nicholas Nissen, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Marcus S. Noel, MD
Georgetown University Hospital
Shubham Pant, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Marina Pasca di Magliano, PhD
University of Michigan
Jennifer B. Permuth, PhD, MS
Moffitt Cancer Center
Philip Agop Philip, MD, PhD
Henry Ford Health
Vincent Picozzi, MD
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Michael Pishvaian, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Rosalie C. Sears, PhD
Oregon Health & Science University
Diane Simeone, MD
University of California, San Diego
Aatur Singhi, MD, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Sapna Syngal, MD, MPH
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Brigham and Women's Hospital
Margaret A. Tempero, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Colin Weekes, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Jen Jen Yeh, MD
University of North Carolina
Survivor Council
Lisa Beckendorf
Co-Chair
Nick Pifani
Co-chair
Anggie Becorest
Randi Ervin
Joy Faye Heines
Pamela Jackson
Paris Johnson
Reesa Levy
Clayton Mansfield
Steven Merlin
Diane Schooley-Pettis
Anne Shimabukuro
Ray Shupe
John Walmsley
Volunteer Advisory Council
Angeli Bateman
Co-chair
Helen Dillen
Co-chair
Janice Griffin
Jeanne Lipshetz
Mimi Leonard
Bruce Platt
Sue Popik
Tripp Razor
Jann Skelton
Wendy Stoneberg
Our Financials
PanCAN is dedicated to using your gifts wisely and maintaining full transparency.
With your support, we will achieve even more for every single individual touched by this disease today, and all those who will face it tomorrow. See how your dollars were put to work in fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024).
25 Ways You Can Make a Big Impact
- Contact PanCAN Patient Services and get free resources for yourself or others
- Donate to PanCAN today
- Volunteer year-round with your local PanCAN affiliate
- Advocate to increase federal research funding
- Follow PanCAN on social media and share your story
- Register and fundraise for PanCAN PurpleStride
- Join our Micki Love Society by leaving PanCAN in your will
- Host your own fundraising event through Wage Hope My Way
- Attend an educational webinar and invite others to join
- Become a PanCAN PurpleStride sponsor
- Become a monthly donor
- Bring a friend to PanCAN PurpleStride
- Ask your employer to match your gifts to PanCAN
- Create a Tribute Page to honor a loved one
- Ask your doctor to order patient education materials from PanCAN for their office
- Remember the PanCAN Patient Services number — 877-2-PANCAN — and spread the word
- Read up on the latest pancreatic cancer news on our blog
- Give through your Donor Advised Fund
- Mark your birthday or anniversary with a Facebook fundraiser for PanCAN
- Wear your purple swag and strike up a conversation about PanCAN in your community
- Create a company team and encourage your company to join you at PurpleStride
- Sign up for our latest news
- Donate to a PurpleStride fundraiser
- Write a handwritten note to a volunteer or donor
- Feel proud about the difference you make!
