​PURPLESTRIDE - CHARLOTTE

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025

ATRIUM HEALTH BALLPARK - KANNAPOLIS, NC

8:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. (5K STARTS AT 9:30 A.M.)

Pancreatic Cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate of just 13%!!!!

Join our survivors, families, caregivers, friends, physicians and researchers at our biggest fundraising event of the year, PurpleStride.  PurpleStride is a family friendly 5K to raise awareness and funds for the fight against pancreatic cancer. Every dollar you raise will help create a world where everyone affected by pancreatic cancer will thrive.

More than 67,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed

with pancreatic cancer in 2025. That’s more than 184 people 

diagnosed every day. Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most 

commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S.  Pancreatic cancer’s 

exact causes are not well understood. About 10% of pancreatic 

cancers are considered hereditary.  The pancreas is located 

deep in the abdomen, so doctors usually cannot see or feel the 

tumor during a physical exam. Also, pancreatic cancer symptoms

are not always obvious and usually develop over time. There is

NO standard test to diagnose pancreatic cancer.  Most patients 

are diagnosed at later stages and are not eligible for surgery. 

Tests to find pancreatic cancer in the earliest stages are

URGENTLY needed.

My mom, Joyce Gardner McDonald, passed away on

July 30, 2012, from pancreatic cancer.  She passed away only 9

short days after her official diagnosis.  The year prior, she 

suffered with pancreatitis and was hospitalized several times.  

She was in constant severe pain and unable to eat most of the 

time.  We had 3 biopsies at MUSC, Presbyterian, and CMC.  

All 3 biopsies were inconclusive.  In January of 2012, she had an 

8 hour surgery for chronic pancreatitis, the Puestow Procedure.  

In April of 2012, she was  almost fully recovered and doing well.

By June, she was severely sick again had scans but no cancer

was detected.  In July, we rushed her to the ER and tragically

learned that she had pancreatic cancer that had already spread

to her liver.  Many of you know the shocking and sad way we 

were given her diagnosis.  Soon after, Mom, Daddy Steve, G-ma 

and I met with the oncologist and received her prognosis was  

3 - 6 months.  The 5 - year survival rate of pancreatic cancer 

was only 3% - 4%, at that time.

Since then, I have participated in several PurpleStride events in 

Charlotte, Jacksonville FL, and Virginia Beach.  I have been to 

San Diego three times for pancreatic cancer leader training.  I've

travelled to Washington DC three times to meet with Congress

and urge our Representatives to fund programs that support 

pancreatic cancer research.  I've spoken at Clover Rotary and 

Bowling Green Presbyterian's senior group, raising awareness 

of pancreatic cancer.  I've hosted and participated in many other

events to raise awareness and funds for the fight against 

pancreatic cancer.  

In March 2025, the House and Senate approved the FY25 

budget bill that includes cuts to the Congressionally Directed 

Medical Research Program by 57%.  This was not the 

outcome we wanted, but as a community familiar with 

having to overcome obstacles, we will persist in our fight to 

protect and increase federal funding for pancreatic cancer 

research now and in the future.  Together, we’ll stay 

committed to demanding more from Congress for everyone 

affected by pancreatic cancer. And that means making bold 

asks.  

We will continue to fight 

In LOVING MEMORY OF Joyce Gardner McDonald and our 

many lost loved ones. 

We will continue to fight for and with our 

AMAZING SURVIVIVORS!

There’s no stopping now.  The fight continues and we 

will be loud.  #WAGEHOPE