Dear Friends and Family,

In July 2014, a CT scan delivered words no family is ever prepared to hear. It revealed a tumor in the tail of Dante’s pancreas that had already wrapped around major blood vessels, leaving surgery off the table. In a single appointment, the future we imagined — growing old together, traveling in retirement, spoiling grandchildren side by side — shifted in ways we could never have understood at the time.

What followed was a courageous two-and-a-half-year fight against pancreatic cancer. Dante faced it the same way he lived his life — with strength, humor, quiet grit, and unwavering love for his family.

Dante was not just my partner; he was my rock, my best friend, and the person I envisioned sharing every chapter of life with. Losing him left a space in my heart that words cannot fully describe. Our beautiful granddaughters, Noemi and Kina, will grow up hearing stories about the incredible man their Grandpa was — a man whose warmth, guidance, and love would have shaped their lives in the most beautiful way.

In honor of Dante and in support of every family facing this devastating disease, my children and I will once again walk in the Wage of Hope PurpleStride on April 25, 2026. Each year we walk as Team Dante, turning love into action and grief into purpose.

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. There is no reliable early detection test, and treatment options remain limited. By the time many patients are diagnosed, the disease is already advanced — just as it was for Dante.

That is why we walk.

I invite you to join Team Dante, start a team in honor of someone you love, or make a donation in support of this critical cause. Your tax-deductible contribution helps:

• Provide free one-on-one support for patients and families

• Advance groundbreaking scientific research

• Empower advocates to push for increased federal research funding

Every dollar makes an impact. Every step brings us closer to earlier detection, better treatments, and more time for families.

Thank you for standing with us, for honoring Dante’s legacy, and for helping us fight for a future where fewer families hear the words we once did.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Anna Marie Deleon