We created Molly’s Pod of Porpoises in honor of Molly Durgan Shea. She was the heart of our family, the person who could make any room brighter, and the one who always showed up for everyone around her. She was warm, funny, stubborn in the best ways, wildly creative, and endlessly giving. She loved deeply and fully, and her love shaped every part of our lives.

The name Molly’s Pod of Porpoises comes from a moment that made all of us laugh. Someone asked her what her spirit animal was, and without thinking she said “porpoise!” We were confused and asked why not a dolphin, and she admitted she didn’t actually know what a porpoise was. She thought it was just a fancy word for dolphin. It became one of those little memories that stayed with us, and a pod felt fitting for our family as we continue to carry her with us.

We lost her on May 7, 2024 to pancreatic cancer. She was the kind of person who thought of others even when she was going through the hardest moments of her life. Before she passed, she asked us to keep doing this walk every year. She wanted something good to come from what she went through, and she wanted to help families who will face this disease after her. Honoring that wish means everything to us.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers. The 5 year survival rate is only 13%, and it is the 3rd leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. It is on track to become the second leading cause by 2030. More than 67,000 people will be diagnosed in 2025. These numbers are heartbreaking, and they make it painfully clear how urgently we need earlier detection, better treatments, and real breakthroughs.

We walk to keep her memory alive. We walk to support families who are facing this now. We walk for families that will face this in the future. And we walk because she asked us to.

Thank you for supporting this pod of ✨fancy dolphins✨ in any way you choose. Your love, your presence, and your donations truly matter