In Memory of Joan, June and Lisa

This year will be my 15th LA Cancer Challenge race, benefiting the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer. As most of you know, I lost my Mom, Joan Tucker, to this devastating disease 30 years ago, this past July. One of my dearest friends, Lisa Berger lost her life to this disease at the young age of 45 years old, just 14 years ago this past July. Along with my Mom and Lisa, I lost my mother-in-law, June Ellin 13 years ago August to other circumstances. These 3 women have touched my life in different ways and I continually dedicate my run to all of them.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the LA Cancer Challenge, which takes place on Sunday, October 23rd at UCLA.

In 2019, I was honored at the LA Cancer Challenge race, as a top fundraiser. To date, of my 15 years involved at Hirshberg Foundation, I have raised over $287,501. Last year I raised almost $35,000. Please help me surpass that amount this year. I know my mother is looking down and smiling on all the fundraising efforts I have made to find early detection and a cure for this devastating disease.

In supporting my goal, you are helping the mission of The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer, which is to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. The Hirshberg Foundation is the first foundation in the world created specifically for pancreatic cancer research and to date has raised over $9.6 million for research and education. Currently pancreatic cancer is the third-ranked cancer related deaths in the US among both men and women surpassing breast cancer and has the highest mortality rate of all cancers. Nearly 62,210 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and over 49,830 will die from this disease. Despite this, the federal government invests less money in pancreatic cancer than any other leading cancer.

In 2022 the American Cancer Society reported an increase to 11% in the 5-year survival rate for all stages. Seeing this marked improvement in survival rates shows that we’re headed in the right direction in making a difference in the pancreatic cancer community. Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death largely because there are no detection tools to diagnose the disease in its’ early stages when surgical removal of the tumor is still possible. Research continues to advance but only because we continue to fund it which is why Hirschberg Foundation is so important to support.

The funds raised by the LA Cancer Challenge, support the Hirshberg Foundation Seed Grant program for the Hirshberg Foundation patient and family support programs. For many years, many researchers have remained committed to determining the cause of pancreatic cancer but more and more, we’re seeing projects shift towards curing the disease. The grants that Hirshberg receive are from doctors in internal medicine, pharmacology, bio medical engineering, surgery, genomic medicine and radiation oncology.

I plea with you all to support this very important cause that is increasingly affecting more and more of us every year. Early diagnosis and more treatment options to increase survival rate is imperative for pancreatic cancer. Each seed grant funded is a stepping stone to saving lives.

You may join my team “Team Ellin” and run with me or you can simply sponsor me for my race. Please visit my web page – “Team Ellin” at http://support.pancreatic.org/goto/teamellin. If you wish to mail a check, please make check payable to “The Hirshberg Foundation” and mail it to 2990 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 300C, Los Angeles, CA 90064. Please include my name in the memo line of your check to ensure that I receive credit for your donation. The foundation’s tax ID number is 954640311.

If you have any questions about the Hirshberg Foundation, please visit www.pancreatic.org. To learn more about the LA Cancer Challenge, please visit www.lacancerchallenge.com.

I am humbled by your consistent support and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your “never give up” attitude while we search for the cure! The times we are living in are difficult for all of us, but my commitment to a fight for a cure is a promise I will keep.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Warmest Regards,

Nancy Ellin