(Radio Iowa) – The only statewide fundraising event for Iowa’s chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or PanCAN, is this weekend in central Iowa. Katie Tigges, of Urbandale, is chairing what’s known as PurpleStride Iowa, which she’s hoping will draw at least a-thousand people, including cancer survivors, caregivers, families, researchers, and other supporters.
[mkpan1] :20 “for patients” “It’s a great event to really help those impacted by pancreatic cancer,” Tigges says. “It pays a tribute to their family members. It honors them, family and friends. And it also just raises the public awareness and, of course, the funds to support research and treatment options for patients.”

Pancreatic cancer is the nation’s third-leading cause of cancer-related death. It’s estimated 600 Iowans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and more than 500 of them will die from it. Tigges’ father was diagnosed with inoperable, stage-four pancreatic cancer four years ago, and beat all of the very long odds.  “He is our miracle,” Tigges says. “The chemo and radiation worked for him, plus, a whole lot of faith and hope. He’s very positive. Just that journey, I feel like because I was blessed with my dad being a survivor that this is my way of making sure that others can have that hope as well.”

PurpleStride Iowa is scheduled for Saturday at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, with a three-mile walk around the lake. The opening ceremony starts at 9 A-M. The Iowa event is among 60 being held nationwide on the same day. The goal of PurpleStride Iowa is to raise 135-thousand dollars, which would go toward the national goal of 19-million.  “When I started getting involved with PanCAN four years ago, it was only at a 9% five-year survival rate and now it’s already grown to 12%,” TIgges says. “So the more we can raise, the more research and things we can do to help those that are facing pancreatic cancer.”

By comparison, the five-year breast cancer survival rate is 95-percent. This type of cancer is so deadly because its symptoms are often vague and can be mistaken for something else. That includes things like abdominal pain and back pain, changes in stool, yellowing skin, weight loss, appetite loss, and a feeling of being full after only eating a little food.

Learn more at: https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR?fr_id=2662&pg=entry