The Rickerson Invitational Rugby Cup will be presented on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Princeton, NJ, just a few hours after PanCAN's PurpleStride "Walks to End Pancreatic Cancer" will take place around the country to fund research to cure pancreatic cancer, and extend many more survivor lives. 

To date, the Rickerson Cup one-day rugby event has raised cumulatively over $650,000 for PanCAN researchers ("Community for Progress"). 

With your help, this figure can top $700,000 in 2025!

I’m reaching out to you for your help. Stu's Crew has a goal to raise $22,025 or more with the Rickerson Cup through PurpleStride San Diego to support more pancreatic cancer research, through The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network ("PanCAN").  

To help you get us there, I will match dollar-for-dollar the first $10,000 received online while this site is online. 100% of all gifts raised by the Rickerson Cup go to PanCAN.

There are 2 easy ways to give:

1) DONATE ONLINE: Donating through the website is simple, fast, and secure, using your credit card. Just click on "Donate."

2) DONATE BY CHECK: Many Rickerson Cup donors prefer to give off-line, avoiding all processing fees. If donating by check appeals to you:

-First, Make out your check to: "Pancreatic Cancer Action Network"

-Write "Rickerson Cup" in the memo line, so it is credited to this event.

-Then send your check to:  PanCAN, c/o P/S San Diego, ATTN Addie Flanagan, 2101 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 3200, El Segundo, CA 90245.

You can join in too, again in two ways:

1. Find a PurpleStride walk in you area, by searching PurpleStride.com. These events will take place on April 26th in nearly 60 locations nationwide to support and honor everyone affected by this disease. It a family-friendly day, filled with fun, hope and the power of a strong community. OR,

2. Join me on the sidelines at Rickerson Field on the Princeton University Campus for two games pitting the Tigers against other colleges. 

Things are evolving, though we currently expect the varsity XVs game to feature Sacred Heart University from Fairfield CT, beginning at 1pm. The elite club XVs match will follow at approximately 3pm, also at Rickerson Field (the opponent is not yet finalized).

Come out and SCORE AGAINST PANCREATIC CANCER, while watching some of the best college rugby in the region. 

I'd love to shake your hand, thank you for your support, and visit with you!

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​I sincerely hope you decide to support PanCAN's mission to convert pancreatic cancer from a "deadly diagnosis" to a "chronic condition," and eventually to find a cure. 

A sincere "thank you" for your support for Rugby and PanCAN.

Gratefully,

Stu Rickerson

HERE'S SOME BACKGROUND FACTS: 

Pancreatic cancer still has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers, at only 13%. It is the 3rd most deadly cancer in the U.S., passing breast cancer a few years ago. More than 60,000 will be diagnosed this year, and over 50,000 will die in 2025. Nearly an equal number of women are diagnosed and die as men, so it is "an equal opportunity destroyer of families."

This disease has stolen some our best and our brightest (Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Congressman/Civil Rights Icon John Lewis, Jeopardy's Alex Trebek, actor/dancer Patrick Swayze, Harry Potter actors Alan Rickman (Snape) and John Hurt (Ollevander), golfer Tom Weiskoff, Apple's Steve Jobs; the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin; Astronaut Sally Ride, and the mother, father and brother of President Jimmy Carter, to name just a few). 

Then there are so many of our friends, work colleagues, and family members who already have or one day will receive this "dread diagnosis."

This cancer is far more common than you may think, and the number of patients diagnosed with it -- and dying from it -- is still rising. Tragically, over 70% of newly diagnosed patients die in 1 year or less. 

PanCAN is dedicated to dramatically reducing those numbers, while substantially raising the 5-year survival rate. To convert this "deadly disease" into a "chronic condition" and ultimately find a cure. 

PanCAN is focusing both on early detection (which drives better outcomes) and new and better treatments. Quantifiable improvements are starting to happen.

You can speed that change.

As a 20-year+ survivor, I’m thankful that I was given this extra time and also realize how lucky I am. 

When I got sick, my only child was just 6 years-old. I was told by three different specialist groups that I had 6 months to live.

I was lucky; my cancer was diagnosed early. Instead, I got to watch her win a national club championship during high school,  2 league championships and advance deep into NCAA D1 soccer tournaments three times at the college of her dreams and then see her graduate in 2022!

I’m stepping up again to Wage Hope at PurpleStride in a walk to end pancreatic cancer on April 26, 2025. I will be on the sidelines at the Rickerson Rugby Fields at Haaga House instead of walking at my "home" PurpleStride event in San Diego, where this website is hosted, and where Rickerson Cup gifts will be tallied and credited.

Joining me virtually this year will be many friends who have supported the Rickerson Cup Invitational college rugby event hosted by Princeton University. 

The day before PurpleStride, on Friday April 25, 2025, I will be on the University Campus for the official dedication of the all-new "Rickerson Field," "Haaga House" the new and expanded rugby field house, and "Pirelli Porch" and "Larrimer Locker Room," all named for Tiger teammates.

Even if you can’t walk or visit with me, you can really help. 

Your donation will fund vital pancreatic cancer research and free services for patients and their families. Won't you help?

Hit the “Donate” button and enter Stu’s Crew as your team. 

Or, start your own team!

More dollars will allow PanCAN to fund even more research and provide even more Hope for the 60,000+ patients who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and their families this year and in the years to come. 

Please join me in this fight today. 

Give to PanCAN directly or through the Rickerson Cup as a member of "Stu's Crew" team.

But please give what you can ...

You can help PanCAN re-write the future of pancreatic cancer in America.

Thank you!

Roaringly,

​Stu Rickerson '71 P21

-Emeritus Board Member, PanCAN (9 years as Secretary and Chair of its Audit and Investment Committees)

-Founding Chair and Secretary, Princeton University Rugby Endowment Fund

-20+ pancreatic cancer survivor.