On Sunday, September 16, residents of the Capital Region will gather to fight against pancreatic cancer at the 15th annual Lustgarten Foundation Albany Capital District Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research. This year’s event will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the walk, as well as the special milestone of exceeding a cumulative total of $1 million raised to support pancreatic cancer research. St. Peter’s Health Partners and St. Peter’s Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery have both sponsored this year’s event to help celebrate this milestone.
In 2010, Jason Heckman, M.D., of St. Peter’s Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, became a corporate sponsor for the walk and has continued to increase his sponsorship level and commitment to the walk throughout the years. When Rebecca Keim, M.D., joined St. Peter’s Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery in 2012 she also joined Dr. Heckman in supporting the walk. Drs. Heckman and Keim have volunteered their time and expertise to the event, and those in attendance often credit their survival to the intervention and medical skills of Drs. Heckman and Keim.
Neil Piper and his wife Shari started the walk in 2004, after losing multiple family members to pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest cancer, with a five-year survival rate of only 8 percent.
The event will take place at Elm Avenue Town Park in Delmar. The 1.2-mile wheelchair-accessible, child-, stroller-, and pet-friendly event will include a pick-a-prize auction; a 50/50 raffle; a pet parade; free donuts, apple cider, coffee, tea and water; a pancreatic cancer information area; purple hair extensions by Shear Simplicity; 10-minute chair massages; entertainment by The Puppet People; and live music by Code Blue. The first 500 walkers will receive a free walk T-shirt and a goody bag.
Thanks to Lustgarten Foundation‘s separate funding to support administrative expenses, 100% of donations go directly to pancreatic cancer research.
Registration for the event begins at 8:00 a.m at the park’s large pavilion, with the walk stepping off at 10:15 a.m. Preregistration is available online. For more information about the event, please email the Albany walk coordinators at info@albanypcrwalk.org.
