Walking in Memory of Lori B

This year’s PurpleStride will feel different. Harder. We’re walking without Mom, and that reality is still setting in. But we’re walking to honor her spirit, her strength, and the love she poured into our lives.​

In October 2024, after living fiercely with pancreatic cancer for seven years, our mom, Lori B, left this earth with her three children by her side — surrounded by the same deep love she gave so freely throughout her life. 

From the moment she was diagnosed in 2017, she fought with everything she had. And she didn’t just fight, she lived. Anyone who knew Lori B knew how much life she packed into those years. She traveled. She sought out new experiences. She climbed mountains. She jumped out of planes. And most of all, she never stopped showing up for the people she loved.

Mom made it her mission to be here for the moments that mattered. She became a grandmother six times over, the role she cherished most. Her grandkids brought her so much joy and purpose, and she built memories with them that we’ll hold on to forever.

Even in her final year, she was still chasing adventure. In August 2024, just two months before she passed, she checked off a bucket list trip to Banff, Canada — riding horses, kayaking on Lake Louise, and taking in the beauty of the mountains she’d always dreamed of seeing. None of us knew how close we were to the end, but in true Lori fashion, she soaked up every minute.

She was tenacious, loyal, hilarious, and full of grit. She made people feel seen and welcomed. She faced this disease with courage and never let it define her.

We’re walking in PurpleStride San Francisco to honor the life she lived.

We're walking to help push forward the research and advocacy needed to find a cure.

We're walking for Lori B.

If you can, join us. Walk with us. Donate. Share this with someone. Every bit helps.

The Bogdans

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About Pancreatic Cancer & PanCAN

​Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers—just 12%—and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., projected to become the second by 2030. 

Recent federal budget cuts have further jeopardized progress in combating this disease. The FY25 budget bill passed by the House includes a 57% reduction in funding for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP), the only federal program dedicated exclusively to pancreatic cancer research —from $1.5 billion to $650 million. This significant cut threatens to halt critical advancements in early detection and treatment. Organizations like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) are actively working with Congressional champions to restore and increase this essential funding.