During my adult life, I have come across many people who have a cause. I'm talking about individuals who started to have an interest in a cause because something tragic happened to their child, parent, friend, wife, husband, sister, brother, aunt, or neighbor. Why is that we take up for a cause only after we have personally experienced it?
Now I know. Because I have been entrenched in a cause for 2 1/2 years. Since 1970, I've supported many causes: Alzheimer's, breast cancer, battered women, VA, children's illnesses and more. But I can't say I was truly entrenched; that I felt I had to be a part of something great and that something really had to change for people until my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Only now after almost 3 years of seeing my husband through 3 surgeries, endless visits to the hospital to have stints replaced or port-a-caths implanted in his chest, trips to California for chemo treatments, daily radiation for 5 1/2 weeks... seeing him ill, the toll on his mind and body, the daily ups and downs, the unknown, the fear of the future, and so much more, can I openly and humbly speak up. Only now, can I have true compassion for every person that is sick or facing a major illness or cancer. Only now, can I truly say that you have to live every single day with heart, spirit and purpose
Now I am committed to bringing awareness to pancreatic cancer. I not only support pancreatic cancer awareness through donations to PanCAN from the sales of my book,
Underneath It All, but I volunteer with the Survivor and Caregiver Network talking to families all over the country.
View our story in Outreach Magazine.
ROAD 2 A CURE-- IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Office Dynamics' corporate cause for the past 2 1/2 years has been Pancreatic Cancer Awareness. This is more than a corporate cause; it is also my personal cause since my husband, Dave, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer September 2007.
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer: 75% of patients die within the first 12 months of diagnosis; the survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 5% beyond 5 years. 42,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. This is one of the least funded cancers when it comes to research and awareness!
My husband, Dave (59), is a 2 1/2 year survivor, but regularly keeps microscopic cancer cells at bay through chemotherapy and he just finished 5 1/2 weeks of daily radiation treatments. Pancreatic cancer is extremely hard on the patient mentally and physically, not to mention their family members.
Maybe you personally know someone who has been touched by this horrific cancer or someone in your network knows someone. It could be one of your employees whose family member has been touched or an associate down the hall who has not said anything to anyone but is struggling.
Road 2 A Cure is a 42,000 mile (50-state motorcycle) ride by Chris Calaprice (from Santa Barbara), a 6-year survivor who is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
My sister, Gina, who has been a strong advocate for awareness is participating in
Road 2 A Cure on the leg from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs Saturday, February 20 - donations are being accepted throughout Chris's entire journey so be sure to check out Road 2 A Cure today!