PanCAN PurpleStride 2024 is less than a month away. This is a great opportunity to join the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer!

Volunteers are the heart of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and volunteering at PurpleStride is a great way to get involved!

As stated on pancan.org, “volunteers power the passion and progress of our cause!” PanCAN works with volunteers to organize community events, connect with business and industry, meet with elected officials, build relationships with social media and other connections to spread awareness and raise funds! PanCAN has volunteer opportunities for everyone that will fit every skill set, schedule and interest! Volunteering is not the only way to get involved, however.  Anyone can get involved by donating and/or fundraising for PanCAN, participating in local events, being an advocate for pancreatic cancer research funding, or by participating in PurpleStride!

PurpleStride is the biggest fundraising event of the year and a great way to introduce someone to PanCAN for the first time or provide a fun way to get more involved in PanCAN. There is something for everyone – donate, fundraise, walk as a team or volunteer!

In addition to being the biggest fundraising event of the year, it is a fun event that brings many people together for a common purpose – to end pancreatic cancer. However, PurpleStride cannot run itself and relies on volunteers to be successful.

Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of positions. These positions may include helping in the volunteer tent, registration tent, T-Shirt tent, purple tent, food and beverage tent, Grand Club tent, survivor tent, kid zone tent, donation tent, photo tent, route guides, and more. Invite people to volunteer at PurpleStride!

While every affiliate has different needs and different volunteer positions at their PurpleStride event, all affiliates welcome volunteers to run a successful PurpleStride event. Many of us know people who are aware of PurpleStride and may be interested in participating but do not know how to get involved. Volunteers at PurpleStride may become more active in the local community and PanCAN affiliate, become Grand Club members through their fundraising efforts and participate in advocacy action alerts. This, in turn, may lead to the recruitment of additional volunteers.

It is important that we establish relationships with our volunteers and make them feel welcome. PurpleStride is a big event! Encourage your affiliate leadership to not only welcome the volunteers but take a minute to take them on a tour of the entire PurpleStride village, introduce them to other affiliate members, and answer any questions that they may have.

To establish a relationship with our volunteers, it is important that we follow up – send a follow-up thank you note after PurpleStride, invite them to a local affiliate meeting or activity, or wish them happy holidays in December, just to name a few.

Let’s work together to end pancreatic cancer. Get involved at PanCAN PurpleStride 2024 on Saturday, April 27!