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A Message from the President and CEO:
Our guest columnist this October is Larry Matulsky, PurpleStride Chair for the Boston Affiliate and the organizer of this year’s PurpleLight Boston event. Having attended both PurpleStride and PurpleLight events for the past four years, as well as Advocacy Day this past June, Larry is clearly deeply committed to our cause.
Larry understands the need to change the course of pancreatic cancer by raising national awareness through our signature events. Thanks to Larry’s efforts, the Boston community will honor, inspire and remember when supporters light the night purple on October 26.
With warm regards,
Julie Fleshman
Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA
President and CEO
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Dear friends of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network,
Larry Matulsky at a recent PurpleStride Boston event
PurpleLight means many different things to many different people, but to me it means raising awareness – it means everyone gathering together to share a moment of hope. I am very strongly committed to the PurpleLight program. It has provided me with a powerful way to deal with losing my father to pancreatic cancer.
This year’s PurpleLight event will be the fourth one that I’ve attended and the first one that I’ve helped plan. To me, PurpleLight is an amazing opportunity to bring members of the pancreatic cancer community together to honor our friends and family affected by the disease.
I very much enjoy being part of PurpleLight and seeing the growth and success of the program. Every year, I have seen our PurpleLight Boston event get larger. Participant and donation totals allow us to measure our success quantitatively, but more importantly, as PurpleLight Boston grows, it makes more and more people aware of our cause. The more awareness we build through PurpleLight, the closer we get to reaching our 2020 goal of doubling pancreatic cancer survival. We are getting the word out there!
Larry Matulsky surrounded by volunteers and staff at Community Engagement Leadership Training 2014
I am proud to see my own family and friends take action after seeing my passion for this cause. Their support has carried across our signature events. This year, my family had a team at PurpleStride Boston. I look forward to standing together with people who are important to me at this year’s PurpleLight event as we continue to support the fight against pancreatic cancer.
We are determined to continue spreading the word about our mission. PurpleLight provides a platform to shine a light on our cause on a national level. And for me personally, planning and attending PurpleLight helps keep the memory of my dad alive.
With hope,
Larry Matulsky
Larry Matulsky
PurpleStride Chair, Boston Affiliate
