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Community Corner

PurpleStride New Jersey to Benefit Pancreatic Cancer Research

The New Jersey Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support,
community outreach and advocacy for a cure, announces the 2nd Annual PurpleStride New Jersey 2011.
The 5K run/walk at the Mack Cali Business Campus will take place on Sunday, Nov. 6. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m.

Dan Grimaldi of the HBO hit series “The Sopranos” is honorary chair of PurpleStride New Jersey in honor
of his wife, Florence, who is currently battling pancreatic cancer. Carla Marie of the hit Z100 show “Elvis
Duran and the Morning Show” will be on hand as a Special Guest.

Last year, the event was attended by nearly 800 people and raised over $150,000 for the charity. This year’s PurpleStride will include entertainment, children's activities, and refreshments.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate among leading cancer killers and has claimed the lives of
many public figures, including actor Patrick Swayze, former American Medical Association President Dr.
Ron Davis, Carnegie Mellon University Professor Dr. Randy Pausch, actor Michael Landon, opera tenor
Luciano Pavarotti, famed journalist Dith Pran, and NFL Players Association President Gene Upshaw.

This year, over 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and nearly 38,000 will die. The five-year survival rate is just 6 percent and has remained largely unchanged in the last forty years because early detection tools and effective treatments have yet to be developed.

Despite these sobering statistics, just 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s federal research funding is allocated to pancreatic cancer.

To register go to www.pancan.org/newjersey. To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
and the New Jersey Affiliate, visit www.pancan.org.

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