Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Supports The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Campaign

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 04, 2008 -
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) today announced it’s support of the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and their “Drive to Survive” campaign, which is committed to raising $1 million for pancreatic cancer research. This grass roots campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the disease and advocating for the over 37,000 victims and their families that pancreatic cancer strikes each year. “Drive to Survive” started with an email campaign urging people to view and pass along the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation message at www.pancreaticcure.org and will continue with Allan Boshell participating in auto races across the United States in memory of his late wife, Patty Boshell. She died in 2005 at the age of 49 from pancreatic cancer.

“Drive to Survive” will raise awareness for pancreatic cancer with nearly 20 races in over ten cities, from February to October, including: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Daytona, Florida; Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Danville, Virginia; Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Birmingham, Alabama; and Monterey, California. The Research Racing car and team will be identified with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network logo, and racers, crews and fans will be encouraged to support the campaign by visiting www.pancreaticcure.org.  

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will receive proceeds from the $1 million raised and in turn will fund research grants underwritten by the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. The goal of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is to fund innovative research, grow the number of researchers directly working on this disease, force collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and act as a facilitator in the research community in order to expedite scientific progress for patient benefit. Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. yet receives the least amount of federal funding for research, prevention and cure.

“We are honored to be a part of “Drive to Survive” and support the campaign with new innovative research grants,” said Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “Finding a cure for pancreatic cancer begins with research, and we are able to fund that research with the dedicated efforts of organizations like the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.”

“By working with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, we’re providing much needed research dollars to fund the early detection, treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer,” said Allan Boshell, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. “And, through the “Drive to Survive” campaign, we are raising awareness for one of the deadliest cancers and giving hope to the over 37,000 people who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.”

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit www.pancan.org. For more information about “Drive to Survive” and the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, visit www.pancreaticcure.org.