More Cancer Fundraisers - Texas

Back in June when Farrah Fawcett passed away from liver cancer, Donna Harris of intownmix.com wrote that the star gave us wings that took us places we thought we'd never get to go in the 1970s.

The American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life of Grand Prairie, TX takes place May 7 at 7 p.m. and continues on till the next morning.

The address is 301 W. Warrior Trail at S. Grand Prairie High School and more information may be obtained by accessing http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=24082.

In unrelated cancer news, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's "Know It. Fight It. End It" campaign exceeded expectations.

"In recognition of National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month last fall, we sought to raise awareness more than ever before by engaging thousands of new supporters in addition to those who are already a part of our community," said Julie Fleshman, president and CEO in a statement. "We reached tens of thousands of people, including many for the first time, and made them aware of the difficult reality of what it takes to fight the disease."

More than 37,000 people visited the Know It. Fight It. End It site during the campaign period to learn about the disease, how to build awareness, read inspiring stories, and more.

"In addition, an email challenge that was an integral part of the campaign was forwarded by supporters more than 27,000 times," writes Fleshman. "Advocacy efforts proliferated as well."

According to research, through their diligence, volunteers obtained 410 proclamations in 2009, exceeding the number made in 2008 by 266 percent.

"During this period, supporters also sent 2,725 letters to members of Congress nationwide and wrote 671 letters to the editors of various media outlets, heightening awareness with elected officials and other opinion leaders," wrote Fleshman. "The level of support demonstrated through the Pancreatic Cancer Know It. Fight It. End It. Campaign was truly unprecedented."

Michelle Monhart, affiliate coordinator of the agency in San Francisco, CA, volunteers with them because she lost her father to pancreatic cancer in 2005 and Greg Petrosewicz, affiliate coordinator in Austin, TX says his favorite thing about volunteering is the dynamic of the group that has been formed.
Social networking channels present a number of interactive opportunities for the Network's supporters, research shows.

"Social networking has received an overwhelmingly positive response from our supporters," says Allison Nassour, manager of online fundraising and social networking for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. "We are well on our way to becoming a major presence in the virtual world."

For more information, visit pancan.org or facebook.com/JointheFight.