PurpleStride San Diego is taking place on Saturday April 26, 2026 and I would love for you to participate. 

This organization is close to my heart because I lost my dad in 2007 to pancreatic cancer at age 59. He was healthy, active and vibrant. He had just celebrated thirty years of marriage to my mom when he received the diagnosis. He lived only eight short months. He was my mentor, my hero and my friend. I miss him every day.

I participate to keep his memory alive to raise awareness for this devastating disease and to help fund research and patient support for the most under funded major cancer in our country. 

Join my team Purple Purpose for Peter or 
Support our efforts by making a donation to my personal fundraising page.

A little more about my story:

A few months after we lost my dad in 2007 I ran the Chicago Marathon in his memory and honor. I started marathon training and fundraising for PanCAN when he passed in June for the October race. I am from Chicago and was living in Boston at the time and I hosted many fundraising events for the race and cause.

I flew back to Chicago to run in October and it was 95F on race day, I had to go out and buy a different outfit the night before. The energy at the race was so inspiring, my shirt had my name and my dad's name and people would call it out all along the way. It brought tears to my eyes, I felt like I had an angel by my side.

Halfway through the race when I was at mile 13 they decided to send everyone back to the start line since it was too hot and they didn't want people to suffer heat stroke or exhaustion/dehydration due to the race. When I heard this I was horrified, I had not come from Boston, back home to Chicago to run for my dad and awareness to go back to Boston and say I didn't finished the race! I couldn't stop yet, I couldn't just give up at mile 13.

After my cousin ran a few miles with me, I ran around the barricade, past mile 13 as I could see some runners ahead and had driven the route the night before. Then my brother jumped in and ran with me and it was mayhem. There were helicopters overhead, hydrants flooding the streets, police on megaphone asking people to stop running and people were handing out ice and popsicles to the runners, it was crazy. My feet were soaked and felt like lead but I ran across that finish line six hours and five minutes after I started (yikes) and was greeted by my mom, sister and the rest of my family. It was a touching and amazing day that I know my dad was along for every stride of the way.

I proudly raised over $21,000 for PanCAN that year.

In 2017 on the 10 year anniversary of the passing of my father, I stood on stage as the number 1 fundraiser for PurpleStride San Diego walking with a huge team of over 30 people. It was incredible.

And we keep going, with your help, the total raised since 2007 is: $157,368 dollars. WOW!

This continued support means everything. It is an honor to serve the mission and support families impacted by this disease.

Facts about Pancreatic Cancer:

• It is estimated that more than 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and more than 51,980 will die from the disease.

• It is the third leading cause of cancer death and is expected to become the second. The 5 year survival rate is only 13 percent. When we lost my dad it was 4 percent.

• Pancreatic cancer is the most under funded, under recognized and least studied of all major cancer killers with only a small percentage of the National Cancer Institute’s annual budget dedicated to pancreatic cancer research.

• Steve Jobs, Patrick Swayze, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Aretha Franklin, Willie Garson, Michael Landon, Randy Pausch, D’Angelo, Drake Hogestyn and Mark Withers are a few well known individuals who have lost their battle with pancreatic cancer.

What you can do now:

• Join my team Purple Purpose for Peter
  Make a donation to my personal page

• Share my page with friends, family, coworkers

• Follow PanCAN to help spread awareness

• Volunteer with us! 

• Call or email your Senators and Representatives and ask them to increase federal funding for pancreatic cancer research through the National Cancer Institute. PanCAN makes this very easy with templates you can copy and send. Every message helps move policy forward.

Your donations help fund research grants, advocacy efforts, early detection initiatives, patient support and awareness programs through the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I am so incredibly grateful to share this journey with you and to receive the abundance of support.

Kellie Ellermann

PurpleStride 2026

http://support.pancan.org/goto/KellieSD2026