Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers, at just 12%. This deadly disease has stolen our best and our brightest, but it can’t take away our determination. There isn't a day that goes by, that we don't think about our brother, Al Caminata.  His legacy will live on through his daughter Jordan but the hole he has left in the hearts of us will always remain. 

His life was cut way too short at the age of 49.  In honor of him and the 49,000 new people that will be diagnosed in the next year, we must demand better.  When Al died, Pancreatic Cancer had a 9% five-year survival rate - this was 2018..  We must fight for testing to help diagnose pancreatic cancer at onset and we must fight to give patients and families better survival rates.  Don't sit on the sidelines, get involved and join us in walking or raising money to build awareness and advocacy to this deadly disease.  

I will continue to fight to keep Al's memory alive and to honor him and help fight for other families so they don't lose loved ones so young.  Al had his whole life ahead of him.  He was finally in a place to enjoy his hard work and life changed overnight.  Today, I am 51. I wake up each day appreciating my health more than ever before, and can't help but feel uneasy that I have already walked this earth more days than Al did.  There are days you are consumed with guilt over it, and others with fear of what could come tomorrow.  We never think it will happen to us, until it does.  We have no family history of pancreatic cancer, and Al was the picture of fitness.  Cancer and PC in particular, doesn't discriminate.  Don't be fooled to think it only hits people overweight, with family history.  I was that person.

We've stepped up to Wage Hope at PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer. Will you help me rewrite the future of this disease by making a donation today?

Every dollar that you give ensures that the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network can continue working to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients and their families. By donating today, you are supporting vital efforts to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020. 

Purple ribbons aren’t enough. Please join me in the fight today.