January 5, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREEN BAY PACKER JARIUS WYNN JOINS THE FIGHT AGAINST PANCREATIC CANCER

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA (January 5, 2012) — Green Bay Packer player Jarius Wynn has joined the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s efforts to defeat the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. As one of the organization’s cause champions, Wynn will serve as Honorary Chair of PurpleStride Milwaukee, a fund raising and awareness walk taking place June 2, 2012, in addition to other awareness activities throughout the year.

“I am proud to join the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, not only in Wisconsin but across the country, to bring greater awareness to this devastating disease and the urgent need to increase survival for pancreatic cancer,” stated Jarius Wynn. “As a team, we can make a difference and bring hope to all those afflicted by this disease.”

Pancreatic cancer has one of the poorest relative survival rates of any cancer -- 74 percent die within one year of diagnosis and the five year relative survival rate is just six percent. No early detection method is available and few effective treatment options exist for patients. Despite these sobering statistics, approximately two percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding is allocated to pancreatic cancer. As a result, the pancreatic cancer survival rate has remained largely unchanged in over forty years.

“Jarius will be a wonderful partner for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as we work diligently to double the survival rate for pancreatic cancer by 2020. Having supporters like Jarius, who have no personal connection to the disease but fully understand how insidious and difficult pancreatic cancer is, helps us build greater awareness and attract other advocates from the general public to our cause. We are grateful to have him on our team,” said Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Last year, an estimated 44,030 people in the United States were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 37,660 died from the disease. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States – third in Wisconsin – and has the lowest relative survival rate among leading cancer killers. This devastating disease has claimed the lives of many public figures, including Executive Director of the NFL Players Association Gene Upshaw, NBA Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly, 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.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit www.pancan.org. For more information on PurpleStride® and how you can participate, go to www.purplestride.org.

About Jarius Wynn
Wynn is in his third season with the Packers and has recorded three sacks this season. Since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Jarius has emerged as a versatile defensive player for the Green Bay Packers. To learn more visit, www.jariuswynn.com

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.

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CONTACT:
Jennifer Reeves Rosen
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Direct: 310-706-3362
Email:jrosen@pancan.org