Welcome to Our PanCAN PurpleStride Team Fundraising Page! My name is Allen Herner, and I am very fortunate that I am here to be team captain for “Saved by the Stairs”. Let me tell you why.

So why “Saved by the Stairs?

On January 15, 2023 I was carrying one last box of Christmas decorations to the basement when I lost my footing (I was in my stocking feet) and ended up in a heap on the landing. I withstood the pain of what I thought might be a broken rib for a few days before finally going to the ER on the 18th. After a scan of that side it was confirmed - A broken and detached rib with a small lung puncture (less than 10 words more and everything changed) “and, we also found a mass on your pancreas”. 

Then things accelerated, I had an appointment two days later with THE premier surgeon for pancreatic cancer, Dr. Hardacre, who had me scheduled in the OR at University Hospitals February 20th.  He removed the neuroendocrine tumor, half my pancreas, my spleen, and my gallbladder with wedges of liver and stomach thrown in for good measure. The oncology report and several more scans showed that the cancer had not had time to spread. It’s been a year full of complications since, but thanks to the care of many more UH doctors, I am here to captain my own team.

I am so fortunate. I had no warning signs that the tumor was there but an “Incidental Diagnosis” found it. There currently is no “routine scan” for this type of thing. But perhaps through research and the money raised here there could be. Please consider donating. Better yet, join my team! Come walk with me on the 27th!t

We’re taking steps at the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer, PanCAN PurpleStride, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

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.

Here’s where you come in! 

We’ve set an ambitious fundraising goal – because the more money we raise, the bigger impact we make – and would be profoundly grateful for your donation. A gift of any size will help patients and families facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.  

Want to help in a bigger way? We’d love for you to join our team! Just click the Register button at the top of this page to get started. 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 – thank you for your support!