Start A Pancreatic Cancer Walk

Pancreatic cancer is one of the swiftest killer cancers. Many patients live just a few weeks or even as little as a month following diagnosis. Money--for patient support, community outreach, education and, most important, for research--would help, but what can you do? According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (see website, below), you can do quite a bit, including organizing a charity walk in your town. If you or someone you love has been affected by pancreatic cancer, a charity walk where non-walkers pledge a certain amount of money if the walkers complete the route could help future victims of disease and heal the loved ones left behind at the same time.

Instructions

1. Check with your local Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) affiliate. Check the website below to find the PanCAN affiliate group nearest to you. It may have all you need to start your own walk: sponsors, volunteer forms, pledge forms, bank account for the funds collected, etc.

2. Get permission. Check with city hall and see what kind of permits you need for the walk. If you are planning on having any sort of information fair, speakers, food vendors or entertainment at the conclusion of the walk, you may need special permits for police or EMT personnel, port-a-johns, etc. It's best to get your paperwork in order early in the planning process.

3. Get signatures on a petition. At the final destination of the walk, have volunteers with clipboards collecting signatures on a petition to your U.S. representative asking him or her to co-sponsor the Eshoo/Brown-Waite Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act.

4. Get sponsors. Canvass local businesses and solicit donations in goods, services or money. You will need posters, sign-up sheets for volunteers, pledge sheets printed, bottled water for your walkers on the day of the walk, etc.

5. Alert the media. Tell the local TV and radio stations. Call the newspaper and place an ad, then try to get media coverage the day of the walk. Have your sponsors place posters prominently in their businesses, and have them encourage their merchant neighbors to do the same. Never turn down an interview or a chance to promote the walk. At every interview, talk about PanCAN's no-cost patient services and upcoming PanCAN events in your area.

6. Find a spokesperson. If you feel you are not the appropriate spokesperson for the walk, for whatever reason, find one -- preferably someone with pancreatic cancer (if he or she feels up to it) or someone who recently lost a loved one to the disease. If you can't find someone personally affected by pancreatic cancer, consider asking a local television or other media personality to be your spokesperson.

Tags: Pancreatic Cancer, Action Network, affected pancreatic, affected pancreatic cancer, Cancer Action, Cancer Action Network