By Catherine Moore

On October 3, 2009, my senior year of college, I was able to start a fundraiser in honor of my father called Kick Pancreatic Cancer (K.P.C.). The event was a soccer match held at Waynesburg University. My soccer team played in purple and raised money for the Hirshberg Foundation. The first year we raised over $12,000. Since then Waynesburg University Soccer Team has made K.P.C. an annual event and continues to raise money and awareness for pancreatic cancer.

I started K.P.C. as a way to deal with the pancreatic cancer diagnosis of my Dad in August, 2009. I have since graduated and needed another way to express my concern and raise awareness, so three close friends (Kenny Cline, Kristin Johnson, and Annie Campbell) and I created Purple Palooza. Purple Palooza was to be a formal night of dinner, dancing, games, and silent auctions. This was going to swing our fundraising in a different direction but was sure to catch the eye of our local community.

My dad, Ken Moore, was a large figure in many different organizations in my local community and in a variety of businesses. Once the news of his condition was heard and felt, the support was behind us. We met with our local hospital, local paper, radio station, and several businesses where we began our advertising and our invitation list. The donations of items for our auction and our game prizes came in double what we were expecting and they came from all sorts of donors.

Without hesitation our event was on its way to being a hit, but then my family situation began to cause our planning and preparation process to be put on hold. My dad had gone in for a normal procedure but complications arose in the healing process causing him to stay hospitalized. This situation was confusing and heart breaking and before we could get him home, he passed away on November 6, 2010, just seven days before Palooza. I had a great group of friends and co-coordinators who took the reins for me and continued to plan for the couple of days I took to be with family.

Questions of whether we should cancel or reschedule came about but my Dad was someone who made things happen no matter what and I couldn’t cancel something he and I started and worked very hard at creating. With that mind-set, we rushed like crazy to make up for some of the time lost. The morning of November 13 came and it was time for us to set up our hall for the event. We had so much to do – scaffolding, tulle, balloons, center pieces, coffee mugs, decorations, auction items and more – but with the help of more friends and family, we were able to set up for our start time of 5:00pm.

As the nerves and tension were at their highest, the doors opened, people came in and the check-in table became flooded. The turnout was greater than expected and it was one of my proudest moments. Once everyone was seated and the silent auction and dinner were underway, I looked to my family. I knew that my dad was smiling and that we all had made him proud. We had three games running throughout the evening, as well as a mystery box raffle and a 50/50 raffle. Our photographer for the evening, who donated her time, took outstanding photos so we were able to document our night in a scrapbook and create a slideshow to capture our smiles and outstanding moments.

Prizes were won and memories were made. All in all it was a great night in charity and fellowship. That evening we raised over $8,000 and through additional donations reached a grand total of $20,000. The co-coordinators of the event all shared a personal relationship with my dad, who was our boss at Fort Steuben Scout Reservation, our mentor, close friend, and role model. We were all touched by the turn-out, shocked by the amount raised, and are excited to report that we will be holding another Purple Palooza on November 19, 2011 at the St. Florian Hall in Wintersville, Ohio.

By Kim Pope

In November of 2010, the 1^st Annual FORE a Cure 50/50 Raffle was held in memory of Dr. Steven Fore. A 50/50 raffle is simply a raffle where we sell tickets, and half of the money collected goes to the Foundation while the other half is given to the winner (with the request to donate the entire amount back to the Foundation). We sold 500 tickets and raised $1,250 for the Hirshberg Foundation.

In April of 2009, my stepfather, Dr. Steven Fore was given the devastating diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer. Steven was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a physician who gave of himself to so many and never wanted anything in return. His life, both professionally and personally, was devoted to good health. The diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer was shocking because the risk factors associated with this cancer did not apply to Steven. Within days of his diagnosis, he had the Whipple procedure, followed by chemo and radiation but ultimately lost his battle on August 16, 2009.

In spite of his seemingly good health, he lived only four months after his diagnosis. Although we are grateful for those months, he suffered terribly during the various treatments. Losing a loved one is difficult, but watching a vibrant, healthy person become ravaged by cancer is indescribable. Our goal is to raise awareness for this silent but deadly disease and continue raising money for research. Steven strived to educate his patients, family, and friends on health issues. We know he would want others educated about Pancreatic Cancer and spared the typical progression of this disease. Our hope is that researchers are provided the funding so that early detection, more successful treatments, and ultimately, prevention, will replace the current grim statistics for individuals diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. If you, or someone you love, has been affected by this disease educate, advocate, and donate today!

By Lauren Eberle

Dale Burton was a cherished uncle to 10 nieces. When we were young, he would take us on “Alligator Walks” around his Winston-Salem, North Carolina neighborhood to teach us about nature and animals, two of his passions.

My Uncle Dale lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in June, 2010. While searching for a way to honor this phenomenal man, I came across the Hirshberg Foundation website and immediately knew that this Foundation would become a special cause for our family.

On November 6, 2010, the day after Dale’s 59th birthday, more than 30 dear friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and dogs gathered for the inaugural Dale H. Burton Alligator Walk, a 5K loop beginning at his home. Participants proudly wore purple and carried balloons and smiles as we walked (and ran) through the neighborhood where Dale grew up.

Through generous sponsorships, we reached our $3,000 goal and have already made plans to continue the event annually on Dale’s birthday weekend. In this way, we look forward to honoring his loving spirit, while doing our part to keep the hope alive so that other families won’t have to suffer such an enormous loss.

For more information about upcoming Alligator Walks, visit https://pancreatic.org/memorial/alligatorwalk.

By Raymond Shively

Since its inception in 2005, the Scottyfest has continued to grow both in size and popularity.  The Ferguson Corporation continues to support the golf tournament with their resources and its personnel.  Under the guidance of their district manager Nick Colletti and their Bay Area manager Michelle Kujawski, the family is looking forward to its next Scottyfest to be held in September of 2011.  Ferguson continues to take care of the green fees, cart fees, buffet dinner, box lunches and tee prizes, all in keeping with Scott’s wishes to have a day on the course with his friends.  Scott’s family, Ray and Joan, brother Gary, sisters Susan and Jennifer, daughters Cambria and Erin and their spouses also support the tournament by manning different holes serving refreshments for donations and selling raffle tickets or participating in the tournament itself.  The Shively family is deeply appreciative for the efforts of the Ferguson Corporation for keeping our Scott in their memory and raising money for pancreatic research so that maybe someone else doesn’t have to suffer the way Scott did.

By Janet Francis

Attending Tift College, in Forsyth, Georgia, I first learned of and admired a former graduate of this institution known only to me as Tribble. Her reputation for fun and adventure was not only known to those who attended college with her, but was also passed on to all rookie freshmen who entered Tift College halls. It was through a mutual friend and former graduate of Tift that I learned that Tribble was actually a last name and that her first name was Nancy. Over the years, Tribble became a fixture in my life and in the lives of those with whom she developed friendships not only through college, but through her work as well. Tribble entered the teaching profession, a career path taken by many who graduated from Tift College, and was ever the teacher. In any scenario, Tribble created ‘teachable moments’ about science, cooking, and travel. Each lesson was given with gusto and quite often, much humor.

When Tribble was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she began researching the symptoms, cause and treatment. She was tireless in her research for facilities with expertise in the area of pancreatic cancer. She survived over a decade with a malignant cancer that is normally characterized by a much shorter survival period. Tribble created many humorous moments with each procedure and surgery performed to remove or reduce metastasized cancer cells. One such moment was during a radio frequency ablation of damaged liver cells when friends were urged to eat liver on her behalf.

I truly believe her passion and enthusiasm for life, her continued optimism for a cure, as well as her love of family and friends, extended her life beyond the amount of time normally ‘given’ to such patients. She exemplified love of life, as characterized by Sir Anton, Lover of Life, in the traditional Round Table Ceremony performed annually at Tift College. The qualities she exhibited during her college years followed her throughout her life. Though knighted during her senior year at Tift, she carried the essence of Sir Anton with her through every battle and to the very end.

Tribble will remain in the hearts of all those she touched – her friends, her students and her family.

The Thrill in D-Ville Annual Labor Day Road Race originated in the fall of 2009 with a small group of friends and family in Dawsonville, GA. They raised $700.00. The Second Annual event was bigger and better than the first, bringing in over $1500.00! We are looking forward to our Third Annual Thrill in D-Ville Labor Day Road Race on September 3, 2011 in an effort to raise money for the Hirshberg Foundation in the name of Nancy Faye Tribble.

By Sharon Rosenberg

Why does anyone commit themselves to long hours, frequent rejection, and no monetary compensation? Certainly, there is satisfaction when all the hard work finally culminates in an event that you can be proud of, but still that is not the reason. It is simple. I want to fight something that has shattered my life and torn my heart. That something is pancreatic cancer.

I lost my husband, Irving Rosenberg, to this disease. We were married for 41 years. He was not perfect. None of us are. He was my world. There is not a day that I don’t miss him. As I write this, tears come to my eyes, and all the hurt, frustration, and longing for him is as fresh as the day I lost him on our anniversary, September 3, 2007.

No one should have to experience pancreatic cancer and, for that matter, any cancer. I guess you could say my husband was lucky because he survived 20 months with it. Sometimes I think that he held on by sheer will. What he went through during those 20 months would test the strongest person. Endless tests, a Whipple procedure, chemotherapy, radiation, experimental drugs, cyber knife, unbelievable pain, and suffering. I was there for him through all of this, watching him, caring for him, and dealing with the medical and insurance community, both good and bad. It has forever changed me, but also has lit a passion in me that will last my lifetime.

I want to put an end to pancreatic cancer, now and forever. The only way to do that is through research. Research requires funding. Why is pancreatic cancer one of the least funded cancers? I know there are other cancers that receive better funding because they affect a larger portion of the population, but still too many people are stricken with pancreatic cancer.

So my son, Paul and I, through his company, Real Results Fitness, decided to put on a 5K and Kids Dash to benefit the Hirshberg Foundation. We chose the Hirshberg Foundation because my husband was diagnosed at UCLA by Dr. Howard Reber, but mostly because the people involved with this organization are a pleasure and a joy to work with on so many levels. They are so understanding and helpful. We do this for another reason. In the Las Vegas / Henderson community there has never been a fundraising event that calls attention to pancreatic cancer. We want the people in Clark County that have been touched by this disease to have an outlet to fire their passion in fighting for a cure. A fundraising event can give people stricken with pancreatic cancer and their families and opportunity to vent their frustrations and put a positive in their life.

Our 3^rd Annual 5K and Kids Dash at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, Nevada was bigger than last year! SUCCESS…we had over 400 people attend and raised more than $12,000! We were also honored to have two pancreatic cancer survivors participate in the walk. We are already looking towards next March for the 4^th Annual 5K and Kids Dash in 2012! For more information about our race, please go to www.realresultsfitness.com to register for next year. We welcome you to join us at our event.