Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Rallies Thousands Nationwide at PanCAN PurpleStride – Inspiring Hope and Raising Critical Funds for the Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

With Pancreatic Cancer Research at an Extraordinary Turning Point, PanCAN Unveils Ambitious 5-Year, $250 Million Campaign to Accelerate Progress Against the Disease

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 27, 2026) - On Saturday, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) brought together thousands of survivors, caregivers, celebrities and supporters across more than 50 communities nationwide for PanCAN PurpleStride, the organization's largest annual fundraising event. The inspirational day celebrates patients with pancreatic cancer, honors those we've lost to the disease and raises critical funds for life-changing programs and services supporting pancreatic cancer patients and their families.

The weekend was not only a powerful day to join together as a community and connect with one another in person, it also marked the launch of PanCAN's most ambitious fundraising campaign yet - All Together We Can - a five-year, $250 million campaign to accelerate breakthrough research, expand its Patient Services program, and further strengthen the pancreatic field to bring us closer to the survival rates patients deserve.

The events of the weekend come at an exciting and pivotal time for pancreatic cancer research. In just the past few weeks, positive news about a KRAS targeted drug and promising mRNA vaccine approach have been reported. Revolution Medicines, PurpleStride's leading national partner, announced clinical trial results about a new therapy that targets RAS mutations - present in more than 90% of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) - approximately doubles overall survival. Because of the frequency of KRAS mutations in pancreatic tumors, this result holds the potential to change how nearly every patient with pancreatic cancer will be treated in the future.

At the same time, emerging mRNA vaccines designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack lingering cancer cells after surgery are showing promising early results, strong enough to move into larger clinical trials.

President and CEO of PanCAN, Julie Fleshman, talked about the new campaign to the thousands of participants at PurpleStride Los Angeles. "It is my honor to be with you today, celebrating with this community. Like so many of you, today is very personal to me - it's a day that I walk in memory of my own father who passed away in 1999, just four months after he was diagnosed." She added, "PanCAN has always led the way and our bold campaign is no different. We are on the threshold of a new era of treatments for patients thanks to years of investment in research and advocacy. Every dollar we raise, including the money you've raised for PurpleStride, will go directly toward our ambitious $250M goal. We need to keep this momentum up. This is just the beginning!"

Across the country, participants showed up in force, demonstrating the strength and resilience of a community determined to make a difference. From survivor celebrations to heartfelt tributes, PurpleStride continues to be a unifying moment, proving that meaningful progress is possible when we come together.

Celebrities who participated this year included:

• Jean Trebek: Shortly after her husband, "Jeopardy's" Alex Trebek, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019, she stood by his side when he bravely took the stage at PanCAN PurpleStride Los Angeles. Jean has supported PanCAN ever since and attended PurpleStride Los Angeles where she cut the starting line ribbon with leading fundraisers.
• Star Trek Team: For the sixth year in a row, Team "Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer" participated in PurpleStride Los Angeles. Jonathan Frakes ("Picard," "Star Trek: Strange New World" Season 2, "Star Trek: Fleet Academy"), Armin Shimerman ("Deep Space Nine"), the inspiring Kitty Swink, a 22-year pancreatic cancer survivor from "Deep Space Nine," John Billingsley ("Star Trek: Enterprise") and TV writer-producer Juan Carlos Coto, who lost his brother to the disease, "Star Trek Enterprise" Executive Producer Manny Coto, boldly go where they've gone before: PanCAN PurpleStride! This year they have raised over $171,000 so far.
• Joan Vassos: Reality star of "The Golden Bachelorette" lost her husband John Vassos to pancreatic cancer in 2021. She attended PurpleStride Washington, D.C. where she led her team "It's Just A Sprain" in honor of her late husband, John, for the second year in a row.
• Bailey Taylor Brown: Bachelor Nation favorite from "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor in Paradise," whose father, NBA referee Tony Brown, passed away from pancreatic cancer, spoke at PurpleStride New York City and led a team is his honor, "Team Tony Brown #6Strong".
• Stephen Nichols: "Days of our Lives" actor, who lost his co-star Drake Hogestyn and his father-in-law to pancreatic cancer, spoke at PurpleStride Los Angeles and took the lead as the team captain of "Hogey's Home Runners", the second year for the team.
• Jeff Mauro: Food Network star, whose father passed away from pancreatic cancer in February 2025, spoke at PurpleStride Chicago and led his team, "In Gus We Trust", in honor of his father, Gus.
• Rosa Blasi: Actress and author, who has a family member and friend impacted by pancreatic cancer, attended PurpleStride Los Angeles.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat. It is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is on track to become the second. It remains the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other conditions, most patients are diagnosed in the later stages, when tumors are inoperable and treatment options are limited. Detecting the disease earlier, when surgery is possible, is critical to improving outcomes. There is no standard screening strategy for pancreatic cancer and few treatment options, highlighting the urgent need for increased funding and awareness to improve patient outcomes.

Donations can still be made until June 30 by visiting purplestride.org. PanCAN PurpleStride is generously supported by our Leading National Partner, Revolution Medicines and National Sponsors, AbbVie and Nestle Health Science.

For anyone impacted by pancreatic cancer, contact PanCAN Patient Services to be connected to a case manager who can provide compassionate support and free, one-to-one, personalized information about the disease, treatment options, clinical trial searches and more to patients and families.

For more information about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its All Together We Can campaign, visit pancan.org and follow PanCAN on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is the leading organization dedicated to advancing progress against pancreatic cancer. We unite the pancreatic cancer community and push every boundary to create a world where survival is the expectation - not the exception. PanCAN empowers patients and caregivers with the resources and knowledge they need to advocate for the care they deserve. We are pioneering the advancement of an early detection strategy for pancreatic cancer and revolutionizing the development of advanced and personalized treatments; and we are building and mobilizing the pancreatic cancer field to ensure better outcomes for all those who face pancreatic cancer today and all those who will fight this disease tomorrow.

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Media Contacts:

SMITHHOUSE Strategy for PanCAN, Email: [email protected]

Julie Vasquez, Senior Director, Public Relations, PanCAN, [email protected], 310-697-9129