THREE LEADING CANCER INSTITUTIONS JOIN NEARLY 6,000 SUPPORTERS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PANCREATIC CANCER AT PURPLESTRIDE PHILADELPHIA

For the first time a consortium of institutions and honorary chairs from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University; Fox Chase Cancer Center, part of the Temple University Health System; and Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania will be coming together at PurpleStride Philadelphia 2014. The honorary chairs, Igor Astsaturov, MD, PhD, from Fox Chase Cancer Center, Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and Charles J. Yeo, MD, FACS, with Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center are committed to increasing awareness about pancreatic cancer and improving the outcomes for those affected by this disease.

“We are honored that PurpleStride Philadelphia has the support of Fox Chase Cancer Center, Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals,” said Bruce Platt Affiliate Chair for the Philadelphia Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “It is inspiring and energizing to have experts in the field from these three leading institutions in our community come together in the fight against pancreatic cancer and to recognize the need for dedicated awareness for this disease.”

PurpleStride Philadelphia participants have their choice of participating in the 5K timed run or awareness walk winding through Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park. The event will include music and family friendly festivities throughout the day. Registration begins at 6:00 am and the event begins at 7:30 am. Money raised helps fund personalized support for patients, their families and their caregivers. The events also support research grants and advocacy efforts to increase federal pancreatic cancer research funding. To register, visit www.purplestride.org/philadelphia.

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 will surpass breast and colorectal cancer to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States by 2020, according to a research study published by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the May 2014 edition of Cancer Research.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the Philadelphia Affiliate, please visit www.pancan.org.

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

Presenting Sponsor
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
www.jefferson.edu

Gold Sponsor
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

National Silver Sponsor
Celgene

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