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In Conversation: Emma Huckins, Mission Chair, Pittsburgh Affiliate
Pittsburgh Mission Chair Emma Huckins spoke with Community Engagement Senior Specialist Paula Mukherjee about plans for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month this November and her favorite memories as a volunteer. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Paula: How did you first get involved with PanCAN?
Emma: I found PanCAN in the summer of 2022 after my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
I didn't know anybody else who had ever had pancreatic cancer. None of my friends had a parent with a terminal illness. I was living in Pittsburgh, and he was in Syracuse, where I grew up, with my mom. I have two sisters, and we’re all spread out.
I felt isolated and I was looking for a way to feel more connected.
Within a week or two after my dad’s diagnosis, I was doing research on ways I could volunteer, and I found PanCAN. I connected with Affiliate Chair Kathy Cronin and staff partner Melissa Schreiber. It was very comforting to have them while dealing with the diagnosis and such a big change for my family.
I tend to be somebody who likes to solve problems – not that you can solve pancreatic cancer alone, but I wanted to feel like I was making an impact.
I signed up to be the November Awareness Chair that fall and later become the Mission Chair. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into – I don't have a background in event planning – but there were great training resources. Everybody in the affiliate was so willing to be there for me, especially with my dad getting sicker.
My dad passed away the following January, but I've stayed connected with PanCAN. It's given me comfort since then. I've grown close with the other affiliate members and care about all of them.
I feel like my dad is looking down on me or that I'm doing this in honor of my dad. It keeps me connected to him.
I really enjoy what I do. Even though I wish that no one was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it does make me feel better when I can educate someone who's going through a similar situation and let them know that they're not alone, because that's something I valued when I was in that position.
Paula: What drew you to the Mission Committee in particular?
Emma: I love connecting with people and community education.
After talking with Kathy and Melissa, and exploring the different opportunities, I felt like November Awareness was something that I could do because I'm a very detail-oriented and organized person.
During my first November as November Awareness Chair, we planned a speaker event with local medical professionals and invited the public. We partnered with another cancer nonprofit who lent their event space to us. I enjoy having those kinds of tasks – event organizing and talking to other people. I now do all kinds of mission-related events.
Paula: You graduated from college in 2020 and became a PanCAN volunteer in 2022. Why do you think that students and recent grads should consider volunteering for PanCAN?
Emma: It's nice to have relationships with other young people who have gone through something similar. Outside of PanCAN and my sisters, I don't have any friends or other family members who can relate to what I've gone through.
When I meet another person who's in their 20s and unfortunately has a similar story to me, I feel so sad for them and upset that we're both in this situation, but it does also bring me comfort. Volunteering through PanCAN has provided me with these relationships.
If you're somebody like me, it can be fulfilling and almost therapeutic to have these relationships in your community and feel like you are doing something productive.
A lot of young people feel like it's hard to commit time, but PanCAN makes it easy to receive the affiliate emails, show up to meetings, fundraise for PanCAN PurpleStride, and help on event day, or be really involved and work multiple hours every week on different initiatives.
Paula: What does your affiliate have planned for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month this November?
Emma: We've got a lot of good things planned!
We made great connections through the “Reduce Your Risk” campaign last November when we reached out to African American and Black communities. I'm hopeful that we can build on those relationships this November.
The Pittsburgh Penguins host a “Hockey Fights Cancer Night” in November. We’re hoping to have a PanCAN table that night and at other hockey games too.
We're trying to get some of the buildings in Pittsburgh to light up purple. Pittsburgh has a ton of bridges, so maybe we can light up some of those, too.
Aside from November, we are working on PanCAN PurpleLight and speaker events throughout the year.
Paula: Why do you think it's important to have a year-round calendar of mission activities?
Emma: It helps people stay engaged.
We get a lot of new people at PurpleStride who sign up to volunteer with the affiliate, but when the event is over and we go into summer when things slow down a bit, sometimes they forget about us. It's nice to spread opportunities throughout the year and people might not be available in November but have a ton of time in another month or during the summer.
I work with other volunteers in the affiliate to see what kinds of community connections they have, because they’re more likely to be excited about coordinating an event with an organization when they're already connected. It could be a religious group, or a sports team, or their kids’ school. That’s how you reach people across demographic groups. If I were just planning events on my own, I would only have so much reach.
Year-round engagement also gives volunteers the opportunity to tailor events to community interests. Pittsburgh is a sports-oriented city, so we have many people passionate about hockey, football, and baseball and we do a lot of events with organizations in those areas.
Paula: What accomplishments or memories as a PanCAN volunteer do you most cherish?
Emma: The speaker event during my first Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month that I mentioned earlier – it ended up being a very successful event. We had two doctors as speakers, and one was a PanCAN grant recipient. I was told that it was one of the most successful November Awareness events, especially for the Pittsburgh Affiliate.
I got to see my work pay off and see how many people were interested and wanted to learn more. It made me feel like what I was doing was making a difference.
That event happened while my dad was still here, so he was able to log on with my family and watch virtually. That was very special for me.
I also love working at the PanCAN table at Penguins hockey games because I get to meet so many people who stop by our table and may not have ever connected with PanCAN otherwise. Then I get to watch the game too!
Paula: How is the experience working with other volunteers in your affiliate and beyond?
Emma: Every single person who I've met through PanCAN, in Pittsburgh or elsewhere, has been so supportive and collaborative.
When I meet with other Mission Chairs, they are always willing to share ideas and tips from events they are doing in their regions. I love hearing about creative ideas for advancing PanCAN’s mission.
It's nice to know that PanCAN is in so many different places. If I did decide to move, there's a community that I know would be supportive and welcoming to me.
Paula: PanCAN strives to improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer by advancing scientific research, building community, sharing knowledge, and advocating for patients. Is there a PanCAN program that particularly speaks to your interests?
Emma: I enjoy reading about the different scientific advances that PanCAN supports.
I now know, because of PanCAN, that pancreatic cancer can be hereditary. My paternal grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before I was born, and he passed away from it as well. I want to make sure that my sisters and I are on top of the resources for testing and early detection.
When my dad was sick, my parents used PanCAN Patient Services a lot. The Case Manager helped them find doctors and clinical trials in their area. You always get matched with the same Case Manager and the resources provided are tailored for the individual; it’s really cool.
Overall, I appreciate that PanCAN’s work is so comprehensive. No matter who you are or what your interests are, there's something you can do as a volunteer.
Paula: Is there anything that you’ve found surprising or unexpected since you began volunteering?
Emma: It's surprising to me how little the public knows about pancreatic cancer – how many people get diagnosed, the survival rate, and the relationship it has to other, more well-known, cancers. For example, everyone associates the BRCA genes with breast cancer, but BRCA mutations increase a person's lifetime risk of developing other cancer types as well, including pancreatic.
As for my volunteer experiences, I've made many unexpected, pleasant connections with many different people. It makes me feel more connected to my community.
Paula: Thank you, Emma, for everything you're doing for PanCAN!
Please feel free to contact Emma Huckins (ehuckins@pancanvolunteer.org) or Paula Mukherjee (pmukherjee@pancan.org) with any questions.
Editor's Note: Thanks to volunteers like Emma, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month is a huge success each year! You can find resources for the “Reduce Your Risk” campaign, including toolkits for Black Churches, general audiences, and the Ashkenazi Jewish community (new this year!) on Volunteer Central. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at higher risk for pancreatic cancer because they are more likely to have a BRCA mutation, which increases a person's lifetime risk of developing pancreatic and some other cancers.
Paula: How did you first get involved with PanCAN?
Emma: I found PanCAN in the summer of 2022 after my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
I didn't know anybody else who had ever had pancreatic cancer. None of my friends had a parent with a terminal illness. I was living in Pittsburgh, and he was in Syracuse, where I grew up, with my mom. I have two sisters, and we’re all spread out.
I felt isolated and I was looking for a way to feel more connected.
Within a week or two after my dad’s diagnosis, I was doing research on ways I could volunteer, and I found PanCAN. I connected with Affiliate Chair Kathy Cronin and staff partner Melissa Schreiber. It was very comforting to have them while dealing with the diagnosis and such a big change for my family.
I tend to be somebody who likes to solve problems – not that you can solve pancreatic cancer alone, but I wanted to feel like I was making an impact.
I signed up to be the November Awareness Chair that fall and later become the Mission Chair. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into – I don't have a background in event planning – but there were great training resources. Everybody in the affiliate was so willing to be there for me, especially with my dad getting sicker.
My dad passed away the following January, but I've stayed connected with PanCAN. It's given me comfort since then. I've grown close with the other affiliate members and care about all of them.
I feel like my dad is looking down on me or that I'm doing this in honor of my dad. It keeps me connected to him.
I really enjoy what I do. Even though I wish that no one was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it does make me feel better when I can educate someone who's going through a similar situation and let them know that they're not alone, because that's something I valued when I was in that position.
Paula: What drew you to the Mission Committee in particular?
Emma: I love connecting with people and community education.
After talking with Kathy and Melissa, and exploring the different opportunities, I felt like November Awareness was something that I could do because I'm a very detail-oriented and organized person.
During my first November as November Awareness Chair, we planned a speaker event with local medical professionals and invited the public. We partnered with another cancer nonprofit who lent their event space to us. I enjoy having those kinds of tasks – event organizing and talking to other people. I now do all kinds of mission-related events.
Paula: You graduated from college in 2020 and became a PanCAN volunteer in 2022. Why do you think that students and recent grads should consider volunteering for PanCAN?
Emma: It's nice to have relationships with other young people who have gone through something similar. Outside of PanCAN and my sisters, I don't have any friends or other family members who can relate to what I've gone through.
When I meet another person who's in their 20s and unfortunately has a similar story to me, I feel so sad for them and upset that we're both in this situation, but it does also bring me comfort. Volunteering through PanCAN has provided me with these relationships.
If you're somebody like me, it can be fulfilling and almost therapeutic to have these relationships in your community and feel like you are doing something productive.
A lot of young people feel like it's hard to commit time, but PanCAN makes it easy to receive the affiliate emails, show up to meetings, fundraise for PanCAN PurpleStride, and help on event day, or be really involved and work multiple hours every week on different initiatives.
Paula: What does your affiliate have planned for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month this November?
Emma: We've got a lot of good things planned!
We made great connections through the “Reduce Your Risk” campaign last November when we reached out to African American and Black communities. I'm hopeful that we can build on those relationships this November.
The Pittsburgh Penguins host a “Hockey Fights Cancer Night” in November. We’re hoping to have a PanCAN table that night and at other hockey games too.
We're trying to get some of the buildings in Pittsburgh to light up purple. Pittsburgh has a ton of bridges, so maybe we can light up some of those, too.
Aside from November, we are working on PanCAN PurpleLight and speaker events throughout the year.
Paula: Why do you think it's important to have a year-round calendar of mission activities?
Emma: It helps people stay engaged.
We get a lot of new people at PurpleStride who sign up to volunteer with the affiliate, but when the event is over and we go into summer when things slow down a bit, sometimes they forget about us. It's nice to spread opportunities throughout the year and people might not be available in November but have a ton of time in another month or during the summer.
I work with other volunteers in the affiliate to see what kinds of community connections they have, because they’re more likely to be excited about coordinating an event with an organization when they're already connected. It could be a religious group, or a sports team, or their kids’ school. That’s how you reach people across demographic groups. If I were just planning events on my own, I would only have so much reach.
Year-round engagement also gives volunteers the opportunity to tailor events to community interests. Pittsburgh is a sports-oriented city, so we have many people passionate about hockey, football, and baseball and we do a lot of events with organizations in those areas.
Paula: What accomplishments or memories as a PanCAN volunteer do you most cherish?
Emma: The speaker event during my first Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month that I mentioned earlier – it ended up being a very successful event. We had two doctors as speakers, and one was a PanCAN grant recipient. I was told that it was one of the most successful November Awareness events, especially for the Pittsburgh Affiliate.
I got to see my work pay off and see how many people were interested and wanted to learn more. It made me feel like what I was doing was making a difference.
That event happened while my dad was still here, so he was able to log on with my family and watch virtually. That was very special for me.
I also love working at the PanCAN table at Penguins hockey games because I get to meet so many people who stop by our table and may not have ever connected with PanCAN otherwise. Then I get to watch the game too!
Paula: How is the experience working with other volunteers in your affiliate and beyond?
Emma: Every single person who I've met through PanCAN, in Pittsburgh or elsewhere, has been so supportive and collaborative.
When I meet with other Mission Chairs, they are always willing to share ideas and tips from events they are doing in their regions. I love hearing about creative ideas for advancing PanCAN’s mission.
It's nice to know that PanCAN is in so many different places. If I did decide to move, there's a community that I know would be supportive and welcoming to me.
Paula: PanCAN strives to improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer by advancing scientific research, building community, sharing knowledge, and advocating for patients. Is there a PanCAN program that particularly speaks to your interests?
Emma: I enjoy reading about the different scientific advances that PanCAN supports.
I now know, because of PanCAN, that pancreatic cancer can be hereditary. My paternal grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer before I was born, and he passed away from it as well. I want to make sure that my sisters and I are on top of the resources for testing and early detection.
When my dad was sick, my parents used PanCAN Patient Services a lot. The Case Manager helped them find doctors and clinical trials in their area. You always get matched with the same Case Manager and the resources provided are tailored for the individual; it’s really cool.
Overall, I appreciate that PanCAN’s work is so comprehensive. No matter who you are or what your interests are, there's something you can do as a volunteer.
Paula: Is there anything that you’ve found surprising or unexpected since you began volunteering?
Emma: It's surprising to me how little the public knows about pancreatic cancer – how many people get diagnosed, the survival rate, and the relationship it has to other, more well-known, cancers. For example, everyone associates the BRCA genes with breast cancer, but BRCA mutations increase a person's lifetime risk of developing other cancer types as well, including pancreatic.
As for my volunteer experiences, I've made many unexpected, pleasant connections with many different people. It makes me feel more connected to my community.
Paula: Thank you, Emma, for everything you're doing for PanCAN!
Please feel free to contact Emma Huckins (ehuckins@pancanvolunteer.org) or Paula Mukherjee (pmukherjee@pancan.org) with any questions.
Editor's Note: Thanks to volunteers like Emma, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month is a huge success each year! You can find resources for the “Reduce Your Risk” campaign, including toolkits for Black Churches, general audiences, and the Ashkenazi Jewish community (new this year!) on Volunteer Central. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at higher risk for pancreatic cancer because they are more likely to have a BRCA mutation, which increases a person's lifetime risk of developing pancreatic and some other cancers.
Emma with her late father, Sean.
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