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Message From The Volunteer Advisory Council
How is it possible that we are nearing the end of 2022?
Reflecting upon the year for PanCAN, we continue to grow and have strong impact. We have seen many changes that required planning, implementation and adaption. Let’s take a look.
This year we saw an incredible shift of PanCAN PurpleStride events across the country – 60 walks on one day! This represents the unity of our affiliates working together for one goal of ending pancreatic cancer. Sure, each event may have had its own challenges. These challenges will be met with solution-based adaptations for all affiliates in April 2023. In Boston, as well as other communities, perfect weather in April is not always a guarantee. However, as a volunteer, it is so powerful to know we are all working together for the same vision and goals set by PanCAN.
Attending this first PurpleStride event after being virtual for the past two years was amazing for me. Almost like coming home again. It is a year I will remember, as I was honored for my six years as Boston Affiliate Chair before stepping aside to be Co-Chair for the VAC.
Having teams and individuals experience PurpleStride for the first time and seeing so many people rally together in our communities to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer patients is priceless. The hugs, tears, smiles and emotional moments help us all connect and heal together as one purple family. So many teams came up to our volunteers thanking us for such a wonderful event. It reinforces everything we work so hard for.
Advocacy Action Week was again virtual. Advocacy is critical for increasing the federal investment in pancreatic cancer and accelerating progress to improve patient outcomes. Many of us have fond memories of the impact of all of our purple passion standing on Capitol Hill and telling our stories to members of Congress. The power of advocacy, however, is something that volunteers have demonstrated is impactful whether virtual or in person. Advocacy includes all volunteers and is great for new volunteers just getting started in affiliates.
Summit continues to be a highlight for all volunteers. Yes, many volunteers miss coming together to share ideas, best practices, and learn what PanCAN has in store for the upcoming year. Remember, we have the opportunities to do this monthly during our Affiliate Chair Brown Bag sessions and PurpleStride Planning meetings.
Julie’s energy and clarity in explaining and defining PanCAN’s goals seems to give all volunteers renewed commitment and dedication. I know for me, even after 10 years, I always look forward to hearing what progress has been made with research advancements to benefit patients.
Here is a reminder of PanCAN’s goals for 2030:
As a result of a multi-year collaboration with Grassroots Consulting, PanCAN is refining volunteer resources and trainings to ensure that volunteers feel a sense of connection to each of PanCAN’s 2030 goals. This is a perfect example of continued growth and success within the organization. Now volunteers can better see how their year-long dedication to fundraising, raising awareness, and building relationships within the community are directly related to the achievement of these goals.
November Awareness Month has come to an end. This is always an exciting time for all volunteers to be creative in our efforts to raise awareness and build relationships in our communities. November awareness can be the perfect entry point for new volunteers committing to a small, assigned task for raising awareness. If you watched the live webinar on WPCD, I hoped you were as inspired as I was by the conversations the panel had including the many ways research has helped so many patients and how research is continually changing and advancing. I was pleased to hear from board members, survivors, researchers, doctors and a PanCAN Patient Services case manager.
What is your hope in 2023? I thank each of you for another successful year with PanCAN. We have such an extraordinary group of volunteer leaders across the U.S. I wish you well during the holiday season and I look forward to what the new year brings as we continue to create HOPE together.
Reflecting upon the year for PanCAN, we continue to grow and have strong impact. We have seen many changes that required planning, implementation and adaption. Let’s take a look.
This year we saw an incredible shift of PanCAN PurpleStride events across the country – 60 walks on one day! This represents the unity of our affiliates working together for one goal of ending pancreatic cancer. Sure, each event may have had its own challenges. These challenges will be met with solution-based adaptations for all affiliates in April 2023. In Boston, as well as other communities, perfect weather in April is not always a guarantee. However, as a volunteer, it is so powerful to know we are all working together for the same vision and goals set by PanCAN.
Attending this first PurpleStride event after being virtual for the past two years was amazing for me. Almost like coming home again. It is a year I will remember, as I was honored for my six years as Boston Affiliate Chair before stepping aside to be Co-Chair for the VAC.
Having teams and individuals experience PurpleStride for the first time and seeing so many people rally together in our communities to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer patients is priceless. The hugs, tears, smiles and emotional moments help us all connect and heal together as one purple family. So many teams came up to our volunteers thanking us for such a wonderful event. It reinforces everything we work so hard for.
Advocacy Action Week was again virtual. Advocacy is critical for increasing the federal investment in pancreatic cancer and accelerating progress to improve patient outcomes. Many of us have fond memories of the impact of all of our purple passion standing on Capitol Hill and telling our stories to members of Congress. The power of advocacy, however, is something that volunteers have demonstrated is impactful whether virtual or in person. Advocacy includes all volunteers and is great for new volunteers just getting started in affiliates.
Summit continues to be a highlight for all volunteers. Yes, many volunteers miss coming together to share ideas, best practices, and learn what PanCAN has in store for the upcoming year. Remember, we have the opportunities to do this monthly during our Affiliate Chair Brown Bag sessions and PurpleStride Planning meetings.
Julie’s energy and clarity in explaining and defining PanCAN’s goals seems to give all volunteers renewed commitment and dedication. I know for me, even after 10 years, I always look forward to hearing what progress has been made with research advancements to benefit patients.
Here is a reminder of PanCAN’s goals for 2030:
- Raise $80 million annually
- Raise awareness from 14-30%
- Increase 5-year survival rate from 10-20%
As a result of a multi-year collaboration with Grassroots Consulting, PanCAN is refining volunteer resources and trainings to ensure that volunteers feel a sense of connection to each of PanCAN’s 2030 goals. This is a perfect example of continued growth and success within the organization. Now volunteers can better see how their year-long dedication to fundraising, raising awareness, and building relationships within the community are directly related to the achievement of these goals.
November Awareness Month has come to an end. This is always an exciting time for all volunteers to be creative in our efforts to raise awareness and build relationships in our communities. November awareness can be the perfect entry point for new volunteers committing to a small, assigned task for raising awareness. If you watched the live webinar on WPCD, I hoped you were as inspired as I was by the conversations the panel had including the many ways research has helped so many patients and how research is continually changing and advancing. I was pleased to hear from board members, survivors, researchers, doctors and a PanCAN Patient Services case manager.
What is your hope in 2023? I thank each of you for another successful year with PanCAN. We have such an extraordinary group of volunteer leaders across the U.S. I wish you well during the holiday season and I look forward to what the new year brings as we continue to create HOPE together.
- Written by Janice Griffin, VAC Member
