Survivor and Advocate Team Up to Lead Inaugural Lustgarten Walk in Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

WOODBURY, N.Y., Feb. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- South Florida residents are rallying together in the fight against pancreatic cancer in Boca Raton. On Sunday, February 25^th, co-walk leaders Neal Aronin and Eric Borden, will host the Lustgarten Foundation's inaugural Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk at Florida Atlantic University, Lot 27.

Eric is both honoring a friend who passed away from pancreatic cancer and also has a personal fight to wage. He is a survivor himself, having undergone a successful Whipple surgery on August 14, 2017. During his recovery, he decided to turn his diagnosis into determination and volunteered to lead a walk in Boca Raton, an area where there wasn't previously a local walk.

"As a survivor, I know firsthand how critical early detection and research into this disease is," said Eric. "That's why it was so important to me to start a local walk in my area and help raise awareness," he said.

Neal also has a personal connection to pancreatic cancer. He lost his sister in 2005 to the disease. For him, awareness means early detection. Neal said, "we need a blood test, like they have for other cancers." Lustgarten Foundation funded researchers at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins are working on a multi-analyte blood test called CancerSEEK that can detect the presence of pancreatic cancer as part of a panel of eight common cancers – pancreas, ovary, liver, stomach, esophagus, colorectum, lung, and breast. The estimated cost of the test will eventually be less than $500, which is comparable to, or lower, than other screening tests for single cancers, such as a colonoscopy. An early detection test is key to long term survival.

The Boca Raton Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk will begin with registration at 8:30 am and the walk at 9:30 am. The family friendly event includes a short walk, activities, food, as well as gift certificates from many retail and dining establishments and items from all major South Florida sports teams for raffle. Notable guests will include former New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers pro-athlete, Geoff Houston, and former trainer for the New York Knicks, Mike Saunders. For more information and to register, visit www.lustgarten.org or call 1.866.789.1000.

About Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a swift and silent disease that often remains undetected until it's too late. It is estimated that more than 55,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed this year, and over 44,000 will die from the disease in 2018 alone. In fact, as the incidence of pancreatic cancer is rising, the five-year survival rate remains in the single digits. Most with advanced cancer usually pass away within a year, yet minimal federal cancer research funding is directed toward this aggressive disease.

About the Lustgarten Foundation
The Lustgarten Foundation is America's largest private foundation dedicated to funding pancreatic cancer research. Based in Woodbury, N.Y., the Foundation supports research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, facilitates dialogue within the medical and scientific community, and educates the public about the disease through awareness campaigns and fundraising events. Since its inception, the Lustgarten Foundation has directed $154 million to research and assembled the best scientific minds with the hope that one day, a cure can be found. Thanks to separate funding to support administrative expenses, 100 percent of your donation goes directly to pancreatic cancer research. For more information, please visit www.lustgarten.org.

SOURCE The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research

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