Tens of Thousands Participate in PurpleLight National Vigil for Hope

More than 100 local residents, pancreatic cancer survivors and volunteers with the Los Angeles Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network gathered in the Atrium at Continental Park in El Segundo.  The LA affiliate joined more than 19,000 people at nearly 80 PurpleLight National Vigil of Hope events taking place in communities across the country on Sunday, October 27. 

Thousands raised their glow sticks to turn the country purple, the color of pancreatic cancer awareness. The candlelight vigil kicked off National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November by remembering those who have fought pancreatic cancer and honoring pancreatic cancer survivors.  All of the events were planned entirely by local volunteers across the country. 

This year, more than 45,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States and more than 38,000 will die from the disease. In fact, 73 percent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis. There are no early detection methods and few effective treatment options exist. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest five-year survival rate of all major cancers at just six percent.  To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit www.pancan.org.

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