New Canaan Survivor Raising Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

More than 1,000 locals will join the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Saturday, June 21 for PurpleStride Connecticut, the annual 5K walk and timed run to raise funds and awareness about pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. 

"My wife Dolores was instrumental in getting me involved with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network after my diagnosis in 2011," said Gene O’Callaghan, a survivor from New Canaan. "After numerous medical tests, chemotherapy and radiation, the doctors discovered that the radiation treatments had fused the tumor to the major arteries of the pancreas." He added “The tumor remains dormant and my tumor markers remain very low.  I have not had chemotherapy treatment done in two years.” 

Gene and Dolores will be joined by family and friends who comprise "Team Clean Gene" for the third year, in the hopes of finding a cure. O’Callaghan said, "We volunteer to help raise funds for research and also to increase awareness in our community." Adding, "If you or someone you know is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, don’t keep it a secret. Stay active. Communicate what you have and you will be surprised to find advice and understanding from others. You will see that family, friends, and relatives will come to your aid in so many ways."

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of all major cancers - 73 percent of patients die within one year of diagnosis and the five-year survival rate is just six percent.

All those who would like to join the fight are invited to attend the event at Hubbard Park in Meriden.  The event will include music, refreshments and other family-friendly festivities. In 2013, over 1,100 people attended and over $120,000 was raised for research!

Registration begins at 8 a.m., Opening Ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and the run/walk at 10:00 a.m. To register, visit: http://www.purplestride.org/connecticut.