Kansas City Walks to End Nation’s Toughest Cancer

PurpleStride Kansas City aims to raise over $475,000 to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (April 19, 2017) – The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Kansas City Affiliate invites the community to join PurpleStride Kansas City 2017 presented by Lockton on Saturday, May 6, in Theis Park. PurpleStride is the walk to end pancreatic cancer.

PurpleStride Kansas City, hosted by Spectrum Sports anchor Mick Shaffer, starts at 7 a.m. and features a 5K walk and run route around Frank A. Theis Park.

“PurpleStride is important because it brings together the pancreatic cancer community and gives us an opportunity to honor those we have lost and celebrate survivors,” said Kathy Grayson, chair of the Kansas City Affiliate and Volunteer Advisory Council member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “After losing my father 12 years ago, this brings me peace knowing that his legacy lives on in my ability to bring individuals together who’ve been affected by this disease.  He touched so many lives in his 54 years – I hope that I am doing the same.”

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest major cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just 9 percent. However, there is hope. PurpleStride Kansas City aims to improve patient outcomes by raising $475,000.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is accelerating the pace of research progress for the nation’s toughest major cancer. The organization’s urgent mission is to improve outcomes for patients battling the disease today and to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020.

Each year, more than 80,000 people in cities across the United States participate in PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer. The 5K walk/run events raise funds for the organization’s key initiatives, including Precision PromiseSM, Know Your Tumor® and the Patient Registry. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has raised over $87 million for the cause through community events from 2008 to 2016.

Other PurpleStride Kansas City supporters include national presenting sponsor Celgene; national gold sponsor AbbVie; gold sponsor Have a Skate with Bob; silver sponsors Meritex Logistics, ScriptPro, The University of Kansas Health System Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Pita Pit.

Wage Hope at PurpleStride Kansas City, the walk to end pancreatic cancer. Register today at purplestride.org/kansascity. For more information on PurpleStride and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, watch the PurpleStride PSA and the organization’s PSA.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is accelerating the pace of research progress for one of the world’s deadliest cancers. With an urgent mission to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients and double survival by 2020, the organization, founded in 1999, executes a bold and comprehensive strategy to Wage Hope through research, patient services, advocacy and community engagement. The organization’s visionary goals, world-class programs and services, extensive grassroots network, patient-focused outcomes and advisory board of scientific and medical leaders provide the critical backdrop to help pancreatic cancer patients today and create transformational change for all patients in the future.