Twenty-five years ago, my close friend Liz's sister and mother were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and both succumbed to it. That was my introduction to this dreadful disease and I committed to join her in supporting the Hirshberg Foundation in an effort to find a cure. Over the years, other friends and acquaintances have battled pancreatic cancer, most losing the battle, including my dear friend, Lisa. Meanwhile, another friend Walter (whose wife was one of my colleagues at UCLA) battled pancreatic cancer for several years and succumbed to it in 2020. Earlier this year, Rocky, a fellow UCLA nurse and friend, also passed away from pancreatic cancer. 

Pancreatic cancer is a vicious disease and it has nearly doubled in two decades. It now claims more lives in the US than breast cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, lymphoma or leukemia. It has become an epidemic so please help us do something about it. The proceeds of this event are funneled directly to pancreatic cancer researchers in the form of seed grants and you can see exactly where your donations go (this is where the money went last year: http://pancreatic.org/research/seed-grant-program/seed-grant-recipients/). 

The Foundation funds as many seed grants as possible but many robust and promising grants are passed over, due to a lack of funding, and for every grant that is passed over, hope for understanding this deadly disease and hope for a cure. Please join me in supporting the Hirshberg Foundation’s LA Cancer Challenge (LACC). All donations, large or small, make a difference!

Please donate to the LACC and together let's fund a cure!

Your generosity is greatly appreciated!