There is a buzz in the air! Springtime is officially here which means that PanCAN PurpleStride is just around the corner!
On April 26, 2025, Striders from all over the United States will be joining forces to help everyone affected by pancreatic cancer.

We are actively fundraising by participating in challenges, call blitzes and other fundraising strategies, recruiting and activating teams as well as individuals, and hosting affiliate meetings and gathering volunteers to prepare for our PurpleStride walk.

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! Volunteers are appreciated in any capacity from participating in an affiliate meeting, helping with community events, or regularly participating in call blitzes.

Volunteers are also the key to a successful PurpleStride! People new to PanCAN, or those who have supported PanCAN for many years but are not able to be active volunteers throughout the year, are encouraged to help at PurpleStride. Other people may be interested in getting involved but do not know how. Invite them to participate by doing one task, helping in one aspect of a role within the affiliate, rather than recruiting them to be a Chair, for example! This can lead to more of an active role in the future. PurpleStride 2025 is a great springboard. Let’s not overwhelm our new members!

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!

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, food and beverage tent, Grand Club tent, survivor tent, kid zone tent, photo tent, route guides, parking sign holders, uploading and out loading from cars, coordinating delivery drop-offs, and marking off parking for paramedics, etc. Invite people to volunteer at PurpleStride! While every community has different needs and different volunteer positions at their PurpleStride event, all communities welcome volunteers to run a successful PurpleStride event.

It is important that we establish relationships with our volunteers and make them feel welcome and appreciated. PurpleStride is a big event and a great place to welcome new volunteers! Encourage your affiliate leadership 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!

We need to appreciate our volunteers year-round! Some ways to do this include sending a follow-up thank you note after PurpleStride, recognizing their accomplishments, inviting them to a local affiliate meeting or activity, or wishing them a Happy Holiday in December, just to name a few.

Thank you, volunteers! Together we will fight pancreatic cancer and make strides to end this deadly disease at PurpleStride 2025, the biggest fundraising event of the year!