Spring Cancer Fundraisers Continued

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Tampa, FL affiliate will once again present their Purple Stride event May 22 for the second year.

The 5K Run and Family Walk welcomes strollers and dogs, too and as of today $18,281 has been raised for the race which has a registration time of 7:30 a.m. Race starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes until noon at St. Petersburg War Veterans' Memorial Park (9600 Bay Pines Boulevard).

To register, visit http://pancan.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=340173.

For more information, email Tracy Connolly at t_connolly@yahoo.com.

Later that night over in West Warwick, RI will be the Night of Hope Fundraising Dinner, also a Network event.

The contact person is Shena Hamel who may be reached at at shamel@pancanvolunteer.org.

In related fundraiser news, May 24 "Cookin' Up a Cure" will be held in New York City, also benefiting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

For details, email Angela Vaccaro at avaccaro@pancanvolunteer.org.

The Network recently announced new affiliate coodinators for Denver (Kara Friedrich), and Boston (Lindsay Seal).

Hundreds gathered to fight pancreatic cancer at the 12th Annual "An Evening with the Stars Gala" with nearly 500 guests convening at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel. Eleven exceptional women were recognized during the evening for their own unique contributions to the right against the disease through research and other support efforts.

"In recognition of their visionary approach to fighting cancer, the nine members of the Stand Up to Cnacer (SU2C) Executive Leadership Council (Katie Couric, Noreen Fraser, Sherry Lansing, Kathleen Lobb, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Ellen Ziffren, and Laura Ziskin) were honored with the Spirit of Hope Award," stated a press release. "Upon accepting their awards on behalf of the entire SU2C council, Lobb and Paulsen presented them to Lisa Neimi, widow of actor Patrick Swazye, who lost his own battle with the disease in September."

Renowned New York area philanthropist Betsy Hilfiger, who serves as director of Community Affairs for Tommy Hilfiger USA, was presented with the Emily Couric Public Service Award by her brother, fashion magnate Tommy, and Jeffrey Wadlow, the son of Emily.

In unrelated health news, Rosalie Davis, an attorney who spent decades fighting for the rights of lesbian mothers, died after suffering a massive stroke. (Source: LC Magazine).

"Those in and around Philadephia knew Rosalie as 'the robust Brit' who never entirely lost her accent, and who never let discrimination against lesbians and women go unchallenged," states a friend. "A native of London, Rosalie immigrated to Montreal with her husband in the 1950s."

While earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Davis ran a telephone help line for lesbians.

For more than 30 years, Davis was partners with Minna 'Mickey' Weinstein, until Mickey's death in 2008, according to research.

"During the 1970s Rosalie founded the activist group, RadicalLesbians," her friend writes. "Rosalie was almost larger than life."