Hundreds gather for PanCAN PurpleStride walk
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Hundreds of people in Buffalo walked together on Saturday in support of those battling pancreatic cancer and to raise money to research the disease at the PanCAN PurpleStride event.
The event gives people hope and hits very close to the WIVB News 4 family.
Mike Micoli, who was an engineer at News 4 for around three decades, battled pancreatic cancer and there was no question that he fought it with strength and bravery. He died in February of this year.
'Mike, whenever I saw him, he always had a smile on his face,' said Jennifer Schiffmacher, an affiliate chair for the Western New York Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. 'You would never think he was going through the battle that he was going through.'
The PanCAN PurpleStride benefit is an event that is near and dear to Micoli's family and his co-workers at News 4.
'Mike was the epitome of joy and kindness,' said News 4 anchor and event emcee Dave Greber. 'He was the type of co-worker everyone wants.'
Attendees came out wearing purple to show their support for people who have pancreatic cancer and to raise money for research.
'You see the sea of purple and it's a moment. It definitely is a moment,' Schiffmacher said.
Whether people walked alongside a loved one battling the disease or walked in memory of someone, the message at the event was one of hope.
'It's just amazing to see the people, and you see people year after year and you have that hug,' Schiffmacher said. 'It can be emotional when you take that moment.'
'Just knowing that you're not alone in the fight against pancreatic cancer, that there's individuals at Roswell Park that are working on their behalf and all the people that are in it together,' said Dr. Tom O'Connor, a Pancreatic Cancer Research Center coordinator.
Micoli wanted to be present for the benefit and in some way, with his friends and family walking in stride, he was.
'There are two emotions that are really dominant here today — that is the sadness that goes along with this awful disease and how quickly it takes people, but there's another half of the coin and I think it's more important, and that is that there is hope,' Greber said.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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