I am writing to tell you about our third annual Purple Stride Walk in Chicago for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. We began this walk in 2010 in honor of my dad, Dr. Karl Csiszer, and now we walk in memory of him.

Unfortunately, we are not the only ones who walk in memory of someone. In fact, most teams walking have lost their honorary members. We have members of our team who have lost family members as well. We are walking and raising awareness so that no one has to feel as hopeless as my family did and people can have a real chance at life again after being diagnosed.

It is estimated that this year, 43,920 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and of those 37,390 will die from it. Subsequently, the mortality rate is about the same as the incidence rate. That statistic is astonishing.

The survival rate is 5 percent, with pancreatic cancer being the only of the top 10 cancers in the single digits still. It is the most underfunded of the top cancers with only 2 percent funding from the NIH and is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

This information is not acceptable. We need to change these statistics so pancreatic cancer is not the “death sentence” cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is an organization that supports research for this cancer and offers services to those who are facing this terrible disease.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has launched a new campaign committed to doubling its efforts to increase pancreatic cancer survival rates by announcing The Vision of Progress: Double the Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates by 2020. This bold new initiative intensifies efforts to raise awareness, support patients and intensify advocacy for a national research strategy.

The walk takes place on Saturday, April 28 in Lincoln Park. It begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends about 11:30 a.m. Registration is $25 for an adult and $10 for a child, and walkers get a T-shirt. It is a 5K walk/run and kids/strollers are welcome. There are kids’ events, refreshments, apparel for sale and information on how to get involved in PANCAN. It is a great event that promotes awareness for this disease.

Come out and join us and enjoy the day in the city. To sign up, visit www.purplestride.org and click on Chicago 2012 and then register with our team “Team Eyecare for PANCAN.”

Or if you are unable to walk, but would like to donate to our cause visit www.purplestride.org and click on Chicago and then donate to a participant and enter my name.

My dad was committed to this community, and I know he would be honored by how many people are continuing to honor him in this fight against pancreatic cancer.

We hope to see you there!

Valerie (Csiszer) Jackman

Sandwich