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06/04/2013 12:00 AMPancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death, yet it is the most under-funded, under-recognized, and least-studied of all major cancers.
On Saturday, June 22, by volunteering at PurpleStride Connecticut, a 5K run/walk at Hubbard Park in Meriden, Guilford's Kara Heller hopes to raise awareness and funds that will help change these dismal statistics and support families, like hers, with individuals struck by this devastating disease.
"I'm committed to help get the word out about this worthy event," says Kara. "My family-myself, my husband, and our three teenagers-are all scheduled to be volunteering that day, in memory of my uncle Tom and in support of my step-father, Tom Fleming."
Incredibly, the Heller family has recently dealt twice with the disease, which notoriously steals a life within five years of diagnosis. Kara said her family is very grateful for the support provided via non-profit Pancreatic Action Network (PANCAN), which organizes PurpleStride.
"We got involved with PANCAN about a year and a half ago, when my step-father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer," Kara says. "My mother has one sister and they were both married to a Tom, which is ironic enough, but three years ago, my uncle Tom passed away from pancreatic cancer. So in a very small family, within 14 months of each other, both Toms were diagnosed with the same disease."
After her uncle's battle with pancreatic cancer, "When my step-father was diagnosed with the same disease, we all took a deep breath. We knew what we were headed for, and we said, 'How can we make a difference?' We found a PurpleStride in Boston and within four weeks, we had a team of 25 of us walking in Boston."
Team Tom-Tom completed two Boston PurpleStride events. Then, Kara began to consider what she might be able to do to assist with the effort closer to home.
"Being a Connecticut person and a Guilford person, I thought, 'There must be ways I can help here,'" says Kara, who is currently involved with her hometown as a member of the Communications Subcommittee for the GHS Building Committee.
Locally, Kara has participated in other local cancer support walks, including those for breast cancer and Shoreline Relay for Life.
"At those walks, there's always an amazing tribute to the people who are survivors, and there are so many local people who participate who can proudly call themselves survivors-but with pancreatic cancer, there's only a six percent survival rate after five years. I want to speak for the 94 percent who are unable to call themselves survivors."
At the last Boston PurpleStride the Hellers attended, "There only 18 survivors in front, and my step-father was one of them," adds Kara. "But the big thing about PurpleStride day, you would think with numbers that are so horrendous, it's not an uplifting day, but it is a very uplifting day. The people you meet there are there because they're all sharing the struggle, and they are there to help out people who may be just getting the diagnosis."
Anyone can help support the efforts of PurpleStride Connecticut by making a donation online at www.purplestride.org or by offering assistance, such as event volunteer, which is what Kara and her family will provide this year in Meriden on Saturday, June 22. Gates open at 8 a.m.; the walk begins at 10 a.m.
"We are all going to be there that day as volunteers; my husband, Jerry; our sons, Robert and Thom, who are sophomores in high school; and our daughter, Elizabeth, who's in 7th grade at Adams. You will see us in registration tent, handing out T-shirts, taking pictures?I'm really proud of all of them."
The Hellers are also working to spread the word about PurpleStride Connecticut here in Guilford. Elizabeth recently made some pretty rewarding headway, notes her mom.
"She was wearing her purple shirt to school one day and her science teacher asked her about it, so Elizabeth explained. And her teacher said, 'Well, I'll be there.' Her mother passed away from pancreatic cancer."
In addition, a Guilford High School (GHS) student, Lexy Lelas, learned of the event and will sing the National Anthem at Hubbard Park, Kara says.
"Her grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer several years ago, and she's going to sing in honor of her grandmother. That's another Guilford person saying, 'I'll be there.'"
Increasing PurpleStride involvement and awareness are PANCAN priorities, says Kara.
"There's so much we want to do," she says, noting PurpleStride Connecticut is one of 45 walks nationwide. "Funds from walks like this will help go into research and development. PANCAN wants to double the survival success rate by 2020. That sounds great, but that's still only a 12 percent survival rate. There just needs to be so much more awareness about this disease."
With her volunteer efforts honored in the past as Volunteer for the Year by the Shoreline Foundation, there's no doubt Kara's appreciated by the organizers of PurpleStride Connecticut, too.
"I really want help to be a voice for the 94 percent," says Kara. "And if there is anybody that is out there that may have recently been diagnosed, or have a family member recently diagnosed, it is incredibly daunting and overwhelming. It would be a wonderful day to come make some connections, ask some questions, and find some commonality. It's also a day when you can proudly wear purple and say yes, we're all bound by the same disease."