Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Symposia - Dallas, TX

The annual PanCAN Symposia, a free educational event for patients, survivors, caregivers, families and friends of pancreatic cancer will take place at the Grand Hyatt DFW March 26 in Dallas, Texas.

For more information, see pancan.org.

In 2004 the Network's grants program funded two more researchers, the Pancreatic Cancer Research Map was created to connect researchers studying the disease, the PanCAN Medical Advisory Council was formed, and more than $2.3 million was raised from over 42,000 gifts.

The next year the symposia increased from one to two per year, Team Hope established 70 affiliates nationwide, held 120 events and raised more than $1.6 million; four more researchers were funded through the grants program, and nearly three million was raised from almost 70,000 gifts, according to research.

In 2006 the Washington, D.C. Government Affairs office opened, the first international affiliate launched in Japan, the grants program funded six researchers, and nearly $4.7 million is raised from almost 104,000 gifts.

In 2007 a new logo and brand launch was created to reflect the organization's leadership position in the pancreatic cancer community, Community Outreach held 261 events and raised $2.6 million, a total of 12 new research grants were rewarded, the first annual Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day was held in Washington, D.C. with 160 participants from across the country, and more than $7.3 million was raised from over 146,000 gifts. (Source: Outreach Magazine).

Two years ago Dr. Randy Pausch, who was dying of pancreatic cancer, testified before Congress on behalf of the Network about the urgent need for more federal research dollars, The National Plan to Advance Pancreatic Cancer Research Act is introduced in Congress, Raise the Cure fundraising campaign launches, Community Outreach holds 321 events and raises $3.6 million, a total of 11 substantial research grants are funded, and nearly $7.6 million is raised from more than 207,000 gifts.

Since the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network was formed in 1999, federal funding for research into the illness has increased dramatically, according to literature.

Last year during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, Betty Cohn of Merrick, NY won first place for the Picture Your World Purple Contest which PanCAN has every fall. She chose to focus her bat mitzvah project on increasing awareness of the disease. Second place went to teacher Kendall Corbett of Mount Pleasant, SC who had her seventh graders at Cario Middle School wear purple and form a human awareness ribbon. Corbett lost her father-in-law to pancreatic cancer. Third place was awarded to Michelle Sfara, 11, of Brooklyn, NY who distributed wristbands and organized fellow students and staff at Our Lady of Guadalupe School to honor her grandfather.

To create an online tribute page for someone who has had pancreatic cancer and give others the opportunity to donate toward the cause, go to firstgiving.com/keepthememoryalive.

To learn more, contact the Donor and Corporate Relations Department at 877-272-6226.