Volunteer Highlight - Jake Mach, Affiliate Chair, Nebraska Affiliate
What made you want to volunteer?
I lost my grandfather, Jerry, to pancreatic cancer in April of 2017 at the age of 75 after a 16 month battle with the disease. Jerry was not only an incredible grandfather, but an excellent role model, and my best friend. After he passed I wanted to do all I could to do my part in carrying on his fight!
Do you remember your first affiliate meeting, get-together, event or PurpleStride? How did you feel?
My first affiliate meeting was an event where we painted rocks with uplifting messages to be placed around town and assembled gift baskets for healthcare professionals. I immediately knew I had found a community I belonged in. Everyone was so welcoming and I made some great friends that night. From that night on, affiliate meetings and social events were something I always looked forward to!
Do you have a favorite memory that involves your volunteer experience?
I have so many great memories from PanCAN, but my favorite has to be attending my first PanCAN Advocacy Day in 2019. My dad and I went to Washington, D.C., to speak with representatives from Nebraska about PanCAN. The energy during the entire weekend was something I will never forget! It was great to see so many familiar faces, and many new faces, from all over the country come together to turn Capitol Hill purple. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to share my story with our state Representatives that day and I hope to return for our next in-person PanCAN advocacy event
How would you describe your PanCAN volunteer community?
My volunteer community can be best described in one word: selfless. The one common thing I have seen with nearly every volunteer is that we are all busy people! Between jobs, family, and everything else that life throws at us, it can be hard to find tons of free time. But, that does not stop our volunteers from meeting, planning, and helping out in any way they can when it comes to PurpleStride and other events throughout the year. I think that speaks volumes to both the dedication of our volunteers, and PanCAN as a whole. The organization does such a great job of creating an environment for their volunteers to succeed. At my very first volunteer summit, I remember a staff member noting, “PanCAN is an organization that I wish didn’t need to exist, but I am very grateful that it does,” and I truly couldn’t agree more.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I really love anything that has to do with sports. In the spring and summer I coach JV baseball at my former high school. When I’m not coaching or reffing grade school basketball, I love going to just about any sporting event. On nice summer nights I love sitting on my deck watching Red Sox games!
I lost my grandfather, Jerry, to pancreatic cancer in April of 2017 at the age of 75 after a 16 month battle with the disease. Jerry was not only an incredible grandfather, but an excellent role model, and my best friend. After he passed I wanted to do all I could to do my part in carrying on his fight!
Do you remember your first affiliate meeting, get-together, event or PurpleStride? How did you feel?
My first affiliate meeting was an event where we painted rocks with uplifting messages to be placed around town and assembled gift baskets for healthcare professionals. I immediately knew I had found a community I belonged in. Everyone was so welcoming and I made some great friends that night. From that night on, affiliate meetings and social events were something I always looked forward to!
Do you have a favorite memory that involves your volunteer experience?
I have so many great memories from PanCAN, but my favorite has to be attending my first PanCAN Advocacy Day in 2019. My dad and I went to Washington, D.C., to speak with representatives from Nebraska about PanCAN. The energy during the entire weekend was something I will never forget! It was great to see so many familiar faces, and many new faces, from all over the country come together to turn Capitol Hill purple. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to share my story with our state Representatives that day and I hope to return for our next in-person PanCAN advocacy event
How would you describe your PanCAN volunteer community?
My volunteer community can be best described in one word: selfless. The one common thing I have seen with nearly every volunteer is that we are all busy people! Between jobs, family, and everything else that life throws at us, it can be hard to find tons of free time. But, that does not stop our volunteers from meeting, planning, and helping out in any way they can when it comes to PurpleStride and other events throughout the year. I think that speaks volumes to both the dedication of our volunteers, and PanCAN as a whole. The organization does such a great job of creating an environment for their volunteers to succeed. At my very first volunteer summit, I remember a staff member noting, “PanCAN is an organization that I wish didn’t need to exist, but I am very grateful that it does,” and I truly couldn’t agree more.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I really love anything that has to do with sports. In the spring and summer I coach JV baseball at my former high school. When I’m not coaching or reffing grade school basketball, I love going to just about any sporting event. On nice summer nights I love sitting on my deck watching Red Sox games!
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