UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will be fielding a team at the PurpleStride Omaha 2018 run/walk on July 28 at Stinson Park in AkSarBen Village, and members of the med center community are asked to come out to support the event.
PurpleStride, a 5K run/walk, is the signature event of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Each year, in communities across the country, tens of thousands of people participate in more than 56 PurpleStride events, including PurpleStride Omaha. This year, Nebraska Medicine is one of the sponsors of the event. (Union Pacific Railroad is the presenting sponsor.)
These events are critical in raising awareness and funds that advance pancreatic cancer research and support patients and loved ones with a promise of a better tomorrow.
In June, the Board of Regents approved the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer, administered by the UNMC College of Medicine.
The center will lead to the building of a leading clinical and research program benefiting all Nebraskans, similar to the Frederick F. Paustian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center established in 2015 at UNMC/Nebraska Medicine.
“In the oncology field, pancreatic cancer is perhaps our most difficult adversary,” said Quan Ly, M.D., associate professor, surgical oncology. “Events like PurpleStride play an important role in raising awareness of pancreatic cancer and bringing in funding so that we can conduct research and try to find some answers for this deadly disease.
“I encourage all UNMC/Nebraska Medicine employees to make a donation or participate in this event. With the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at the forefront of cancer care in our area and with pancreatic cancer being one of our centers of excellence, I feel we have a strong responsibility to show the community that we are walking the walk.”
Pancreatic cancer is of crucial concern for UNMC/Nebraska Medicine and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center because:
- Pancreatic cancer is one of the nation’s — and Nebraska’s — most lethal cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of 9 percent;
- Incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing, with 259 cases diagnosed in Nebraska per year — and by 2030, it is expected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality;
- There are no other center of excellence programs for pancreatic cancer in the adjacent five-state region.
The event schedule on July 28 is:
- 7 a.m. — Registration opens
- 8:30 a.m. — Opening ceremonies
- 9 a.m. — 5K run/walk begins
Registration fees vary by age, and participation is free for survivors. Learn more about the event and register or donate.
Where is the walk being held?
The walk is being held at Stinson Park in AkSarBen Village. All information on the walk is available through the link at the bottom of the story.