Welcome to Our PanCAN PurpleStride Team Fundraising Page!

Hi All,

We apologize for being late in getting this out, but we hope many of you can still join us for the Pancreatic Cancer walk this year! A little less than a month from now, we are getting Shottzy’s Roadies back together to honor our Shottzy and those who have gone before him. Their courageous battle will never be forgotten as we help to bring an end to this disease for all those who are still fighting!! Many of you know that Dave's battle ended on January 19th, but we will forever keep his infectious spirit and love for helping others alive by rallying together to support events like these!  

Shottzy's personal story began in August of 2018, after becoming jaundiced and following the subsequent discovery of a malignant lesion on the head of his pancreas that was initially deemed as borderline resectable. After consultation with his assembled care team at UPMC and Hillman Cancer Center, his near-term journey was mapped out, leading to a robotic Whipple procedure at UPMC-Presbyterian in November of 2018 under the skilled hands of Dr. Amer Zureikat.  Six months of chemotherapy then ensued, culminating in a joyous bell-ringing session at Hillman attended by friends and family.  He had remained cancer-free until a localized recurrence of the cancer, within the surgical bed, was identified in February 2022.  This part of the journey encompassed several rounds of focused radiation at UPMC-Shadyside, which was then followed by another six months of chemotherapy. The result was achievement of stable disease in October 2022, which continued until May of 2023 when they found lesions on his spine and lung. Our Shottzy still never gave up, and again underwent radiation and chemotherapy so that he could be around for some major family milestones.  We were so very blessed that he was able to attend the marriages of his daughter, Chelsea (September '23) and son, Tyler (October '23)! We indeed had much to be thankful for! As everyone who has been touched by this disease knows, each new day is a blessing and the ability to sustain/prolong life is a precious gift! We will always be grateful for the gift that was our Shottzy! May we always Wage Hope! 

Forever thankful,

Kim, Chelsea, Jeff, Tyler & Andrea