What does it mean to be a volunteer? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a volunteer is a person who does something, especially helping other people, willingly and without being forced or paid to do it.

Wikipedia has several definitions for volunteering, including:

• Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service.
• Volunteering gives you the chance to be a part of addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges and play an active role in the global community.
• Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds.                                                                  

The above definitions define our PanCAN volunteers perfectly. PanCAN relies on our volunteers! According to PanCAN, volunteers power the passion and progress of our cause by organizing community events, building relationships with local media, meeting with elected officials and businesses to spread awareness and raise funds.

Volunteers for PanCAN make a difference! We celebrate all volunteers. Volunteers do the same thing for the same goal regardless of an individual’s role in the PanCAN family. Volunteers for PanCAN participate in many ways, including participating in PanCAN PurpleStride, serving in affiliate leadership roles, attending affiliate meetings, attending PurpleLight, advocating and sending emails to Congress, or wearing purple and sharing about pancreatic cancer at work, your place of worship, or daily activities. Collectively, volunteers build community and make a difference!

PanCAN’s goals by 2030 are to increase the five-year survival rate to 20%; increase the awareness of PanCAN to 30%; and reach an annual revenue of $80 million.

These goals can only be accomplished through the dedicated efforts of volunteers!
             
National Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 16-22. Thank you for all you do for PanCAN! You are appreciated.