The Houston Affiliate Of Pancan Announces Purplestride, Saturday, November 17 At Reliant Park

Aug. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- The Houston Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure, announces PurpleStride Houston 2012. The 5K chip timed run and walk at Reliant Park will take place on Saturday, November 17, 2012.

“PurpleStride Houston, planned entirely by local volunteers, is a day filled with hope and inspiration for participants while supporting important work being done by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network,” stated Jennifer Moffett, Affiliate Coordinator.

Pancreatic cancer survivors, loved ones, friends, and supporters are invited to attend the event, which will include family-friendly activities, live music and refreshments throughout the day. Registration begins at 7:00am and the walk begins at 8:30am. To register, visit www.purplestride.org/houston.

PurpleStride Houston is among 50 PurpleStride events taking place this year in communities across the country where tens of thousands of people will make strides towards a cure for pancreatic cancer. PurpleStride events contribute millions of dollars toward the mission of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to advance research, support patients and create hope. 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.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and has the lowest relative survival rate among leading cancer killers. This devastating disease has claimed the lives of many public figures, including Astronaut Sally Ride, 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.

This year, nearly 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and more than 37,000 will die from the disease. The five-year relative survival rate is just six percent and has remained largely unchanged in the last forty years because early detection tools and effective treatments have yet to be developed.  Despite these sobering statistics, approximately two percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding is allocated to pancreatic cancer.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the Houston Affiliate, 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 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.