Thank you for supporting my PanCAN PurpleStride fundraiser!

I want to make the biggest impact on the lives of pancreatic cancer patients – and I need your help!

I will always remember the date April 19, 2023, when my dad called me to share the heart breaking, gut wrenching, life altering news that he likely had pancreatic cancer, stage 4.

My initial thoughts were “this can’t be real,” and then the pain sunk in deep and my thoughts evolved into “make it stop.” Denial, anger, bargaining… stages of grief. My feelings at the time could best be described through song lyrics from the movie Moneyball, where Billy Beane’s daughter sings “slow it down, make it stop, or else my heart is going to pop, ‘cause it’s too much, yeah it’s a lot.” The weight was too much, and it crushed me.

I have since cycled through the stages of depression and acceptance. Of course I still hate it and wish it weren’t true, but I can accept it. Grief specialist David Kessler also talks about a 6th stage of grief: Finding meaning. Over the past several months I have been focused on finding meaning with the time we have, and am so grateful for it.

Be sure to tell your people you love them. Take a lot of photos and videos. Remind them what they mean to you. Hug them tight. Be present in your moments of joy. One day, you’ll be so grateful you did. 

1 year after dad’s diagnosis, I’m taking steps at the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer, PanCAN PurpleStride, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. When deciding on a team name, we landed on Team Toivo; Toivo meaning “Hope” in Finnish. 

PurpleStride participants raise money to fund vital research that can bring new treatment options to patients; free, personalized, one-to-one support through PanCAN Patient Services; and more which can be found on their website.

Here’s where you come in! I’ve set an ambitious fundraising goal and need your donations! A gift of any size will help patients and families facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Want to help in a bigger way? Join me by registering for PurpleStride! Register for free, raise $50 and you’ll receive an official PanCAN PurpleStride 2024 T-shirt!

Let’s show everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer that we’re fighting for them. It’s so important for people to know that no one fights alone.

I’m truly grateful for your support, financial and otherwise! Thank you!