Local Information

“I feel strongly that it's my mission to be an advocate, a voice, because so many pancreatic cancer patients don't get the opportunity to do so. So many wonderful people have come into my life, whom I never would have met otherwise. It fills my heart with joy when new volunteers say ‘I want to become part of this group, and make a difference, like you are!’ Our affiliate has made an impact building awareness, fund raising, and equally important, creating a real community for survivors, families and friends.”

- Maija, seven-year survivor and volunteer

Contact Brenda Coleman, Affiliate Coordinator, to get involved.


	Local Events TEAMHOPE at Grandma’s Marathon Friday, Jun 21, 2013 - Saturday, Jun 22, 2013 Duluth, MN PurpleNightOut & PurpleRide Team Captain Rally Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 Town Hall Brewery – Back Room 1430 Washington Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55454 Awareness Night with the Minnesota Twins Wednesday, Jul 31, 2013 Target Field 1 Twins Way Minneapolis, MN 55403 PurpleRide Twin Cities 2013 - Registration is live! Sunday, Sep 15, 2013 Elm Creek Regional Park Maple Grove, MN 55369 PurpleStride Rochester 2013 - Registration is live! Saturday, Sep 21, 2013 Rochester Community and Technical College 851 30th Avenue SE Rochester, MN Park Point Beach Run - 1 Mile and 5K for Pancreatic Cancer Saturday, Sep 21, 2013 Park Point Beach 5000 Minnesota Ave Duluth, MN 55802

Local Highlights

TEAMHOPE at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth

We had an amazing first year for TEAMHOPE at Grandma’s Marathon in 2012. Almost 50 runners and dozens of volunteers helped us raise awareness and over $31,000. Media coverage and our presence at the pre-event Expo, along with celebrity appearance by Julie Weiss, Marathon Goddess (www.marathongoddess.com) brought us amazing exposure. We are planning to double our success in 2013, and early indications look like that will happen and more! All TEAMHOPE runners are guaranteed a bib in their event of choice (5K, half or full marathon), a TEAMOPE jersey and fundraising support to help reach their minimum requirement.

Both runners and event volunteers are encouraged to find out more through the link in the Local Events section above.

A pre-event Rally is being planned in Duluth for April 25. Details on that event can be found in the Local Events section above as it is available.

Awareness at the Twins – annual fun at Target Field!

For the past several years, our Affiliate has sported purple to raise awareness and have fun at a Minnesota Twins Game. Although last year the Twins couldn’t deliver a win against Oakland, a great time was had by all and we got some great visibility on the jumbotron with our enthusiasm and creative “signage”.

This year, we will be there once again on Wednesday, July 31 to enjoy the Twins against the Kansas City Royals. Details will be listed in the Local Events section above as they become available.

Find us on Facebook

Connect with the Twin Cities Affiliate's Facebook page! Check out our photos (or add your own) from PurpleRide Twin Cities 2012, PurpleStride Rochester 2012, Twins Awareness on the Bud Deck, PurpleNight Out Duluth and many more.

PurpleLight Twin Cities 2012

PurpleLight Twin Cities took place on the steps of the State Capitol in St. Paul on September 30, 2012 as part of the second annual National PurpleLight Vigil for Hope. Our event happened in conjunction with over 50 other PurpleLight Vigils across the country. It was a wonderful opportunity for family and friends of those touched by pancreatic cancer to come together to gain both comfort and encouragement. The I-35W bridge was lit purple to commemorate the evening and was captured on the local news.

More photos from our local event can be found on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/pancantwincitiesaffiliate.

Plans for PurpleLight 2013 are in process, and will be listed in the Local Events section above as they become available.

PurpleStride Rochester 2012

PurpleStride Rochester was a huge success! The event had over 850 participants and more than 50 teams. We have currently raised more than $85,000! We are less than $1,000 away from our $86,000 fundraising goal. Please continue to donate at www.purplestride.org/rochester.

A huge thank you to our event-day emcees, James Wilcox and Laura Lee from ABC News. Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and took a stride with us to help fight pancreatic cancer.

Event photos can be viewed at www.purplestride.org.

PurpleRide Twin Cities 2012

PurpleRide Twin Cities 2012 was an amazing day!

The affiliate not only raised more than $330,000 from the 7th annual PurpleRide Twin Cities but this total contributed to the $2M that the affiliate has brought in as a whole.

This year more than 1,000 riders joined us for an 8-mile family route or 25-mile river route, with an optional challenge loop. The weather was beautiful. There were carnival games and purple cotton candy for the kids as well as an exciting raffle for adults. There were a total of 43 survivors present at the event.

PurpleRide Twin Cities 2013 will be held on Sunday, September 15 – moved from Saturday this year due to Yom Kippur. Details about this year’s event can be found in the Local Events section above.

Brenda Coleman, Twin Cities Affiliate Coordinator and Event Chair

Survivors

Minneapolis Pancreatic Cancer Symposium

More than 100 people - volunteers, survivors, caregivers, family members, and medical professionals - gathered to learn more about a variety of topics involving pancreatic cancer. We were pleased to see that 33 survivors were present for the program. Attendees learned more about our local and national efforts, as well as felt the support of our local community through our enthusiastic volunteers and survivors.

Purple Night Out Twin Cities Social and Team Rally

An enthusiastic crowd of supporters socialized at the Town Hall Brewery in July as part of our PurpleRide Team Captain Rally. Gathering at the Town Hall Brewery has become an annual tradition, and the previous gathering for all Affiliate volunteers included a visit by the MN Vikings Cheerleaders with photo ops for all attendees,

Plans are in place for another event at the Brewery this summer. Details will be included in the Local Events section above as they are available.

Advocacy Day 2012 - a great success!

Ten representatives from Minnesota traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Sixth Annual Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day to meet with members of Congress and urge them to pass the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act (H.R. 733 and S. 362). The passage of the bill into law in January was cause for great celebration but our Advocacy efforts will continue in 2013 as we work to direct more funding to our cause. Advocacy Days 2013 planning is in process.

To find out more about our Minnesota Advocacy efforts, contact Mary Jo Mahowald at mmahowald@pancanvolunteer.org

L to R: Dr. Gloria Peterson, Peggy Finkowski, Nancy Marian (Twin Cities Media Representative), Evan Marian (survivor), Jacob Marian (survivor), Dan Malecha (survivor), Fran Trueman, John Trueman (survivor), Teri Larson (Twin Cities Education and Outreach Coordinator), MaryJo Mahowald (Twin Cities Advocacy Coordinator)

Volunteer

There are many ways you can support the local fight and join other friendly volunteers committed to fighting pancreatic cancer. Whether you have ten minutes or are looking for a more extensive commitment, we have a role for you. Our volunteers focus on several key areas: raising general awareness, media, education and outreach to healthcare professionals, advocacy and fundraising and awareness events. Learn more.

To learn more about the local effort in particular, or to sign up to volunteer, please email Brenda Coleman at bcoleman@pancanvolunteer.org.

Together, we can know it, fight it, and end it!