Latest news with #PanCANPurpleStride
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Golden Bachelorette' Star Joan Vassos Says Her Late Husband John ‘Would Be Proud of' Her
Days before Joan Vassos' late husband, John, died of pancreatic cancer in 2021, he shared one of his last wishes with his wife of 32 years: "He said, 'You need to go out and live. You need to find somebody else. We had a happy marriage. You're a great wife, and I want you to find happiness again,'" she tells Life & Style exclusively. The Golden Bachelorette - who got engaged to 61-year-old Chock Chapple during the November season finale of the show - is doing exactly that. She and Chock have been busy traveling (they attended the finale of Season 29 of The Bachelor in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in late March) and planning their upcoming wedding. The retired grandmother of four, who's based in Maryland, also serves as the ambassador of PanCAN PurpleStride, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer. "John would be proud of me that I'm using my platform to do some good," she says. Here, Joan talks to Life & Style's Fortune Benatar about missing John and a potential TV wedding. What would John think about where you are today?JV: He'd be happy I'm living life. I don't think he'd want me to mourn him for my whole life. There are days I think [about how] I'll never have my old life back, and that still makes me sad, but I know I need to move on. I had 32 wonderful years with John and I could have 32 more years with somebody else. How's it going with Chock?JV: We're having a blast. We're in love and now we're out [of the Bachelor bubble] being real people going out to dinner with other couples and meeting each other's friends and spending time with each other's family. How's the long distance thing going? JV: He still has a job [in Kansas], and I'm busy with PurpleStride, the American Heart Association and my grand- kids. Life can get in the way, so you have to be really organized and make sure you set that time apart, which we are really good about. We have our next two months already planned. We talk like five times a day. I think we'll end up here in Maryland because I have kids and grandkids here. Do you think you'll have a televised wedding? JV: Originally I said, "We just spent all this time on film, let's just do an intimate little wedding." But as I've talked to people about the hope they felt after our show, it feels like we'd be leaving them at the doorstep and not inviting them to the final part of our journey. People are invested in us, so I feel like maybe we would if they ask us to do that. Any advice for older singles? JV: Do stuff that scares you. It's scarier to do that as you get older be- cause you have more to lose. Going on the show was scary for me. I was worried I was not honoring John's memory. I did something that made me extremely nervous, and it ended up having a great outcome. You look amazing at 62. What's your secret? JV: I go on walks with my friends, so I'm staying healthy but doing it in a fun way. It's about the connection. Being happy helps a lot! Copyright 2025 A360 Media. All rights reserved.
Malaysian Reserve
28-04-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
TV STARS WALK THE WALK FROM COAST TO COAST AT PANCAN PURPLESTRIDE, THE ULTIMATE WALK TO END PANCREATIC CANCER
Reality Star Joan Vassos, 'Star Trek' Team, Days of our Lives' Martha Madison & Cast Members and Lisa Niemi Swayze Take Steps to Raise Funds and Awareness for Pancreatic Cancer LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This past Saturday, April 26, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) held its biggest fundraising event of the year, PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer. PanCAN PurpleStride took place nationwide in nearly 60 cities as survivors, supporters, celebrities and special guests walked in solidarity to raise awareness and much-needed funds for pancreatic cancer, one of the world's deadliest forms of cancer. It is the number one way PanCAN raises funds to fuel its mission and the dollars raised change the lives of people facing pancreatic cancer and advance progress against the disease. Nearly 63,000 people across the country attended, raising nearly $16.5 million towards fighting the disease. Pancreatic cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is on track to become the second leading cause. It is the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other illnesses or conditions, most patients are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. There is no standard screening strategy for pancreatic cancer and few treatment options, highlighting the urgent need for increased research, funding and awareness to improve patient outcomes. 'You are supporting PanCAN's critical work – giving patients and caregivers the resources and knowledge they need to navigate this disease through PanCAN Patient Services; funding research to find a way to detect this disease earlier and find better treatments for patients; and advocating for more federal funding for this disease because we know science follows money,' said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO, PanCAN at PurpleStride Los Angeles' opening ceremony. 'Events like PurpleStride are more important than ever right now because of recent cuts to federal funding for pancreatic cancer research. We desperately need both public and private funding for this disease to ensure scientists have the resources they need to drive progress and improve patient outcomes, so thank you again for being here today and taking action.' From coast to coast and across the television spectrum, notable figures joined the fight. Joan Vassos was a featured speaker at PurpleStride Washington D.C., while actors from Star Trek, including Kitty Swink, John Billingsley, and TV writer-producer Juan Carlos Coto, who lost his brother, 'Star Trek Enterprise' Executive Producer Manny Coto, to the disease, along with Lisa Niemi Swayze and Days of our Lives' Martha Madison and many of the cast of the show participated in PurpleStride Los Angeles. 'PanCAN provides critical resources, research, and support—and in doing so, gives the one thing John clung to most: hope,' said Joan Vassos. 'I walk in honor of John, alongside family and friends as Team 'It's Just a Sprain,' and I advocate so that no other family has to go through this terrible journey alone.' Notable celebrities showed up to walk and support PanCAN's mission in several cities across the country: At PurpleStride Washington D.C, Reality star and advocate, Joan Vassos led her team 'It's Just A Sprain' in honor of her late husband, John, who passed away from the disease in 2021. At PurpleStride Los Angeles, Daytime TV stars Martha Madison from Days of our Lives and many of the Days' cast members formed their own PurpleStride team, 'Hogey's Home Runners' in honor of TV's greatest hero—and their on-screen dad—Drake Hogestyn, who portrayed John Black. After losing Drake to pancreatic cancer, they came together at PurpleStride Los Angeles to raise funds and awareness in his memory. Other notable celebrities at PurpleStride Los Angeles included: Lisa Niemi Swayze: Writer, director, actress, dancer and wife of the late actor, Patrick Swayze, who passed from pancreatic cancer. Lisa cut the purple ribbon at PurpleStride Los Angeles. Star Trek Team: Once again leading the charge for team 'Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer' are the inspiring Kitty Swink, a 21-year pancreatic cancer survivor from 'Deep Space Nine', John Billingsley ('Star Trek: Enterprise') and TV writer-producer Juan Carlos Coto, who lost his brother, 'Star Trek Enterprise' Executive Producer Manny Coto, to the disease. This dedicated team boldly went where they've gone before and participated in their fifth PanCAN PurpleStride! Rosa Blasi, Actress ('The Thundermans') 'Days of Our Lives' cast members including: Brandon Beemer, Raven Bowens, Heather Boyd, Rachel Boyd, Bryan Datillo, Kennedy Garcia, Alice Halsey, Tina Huang, Cherie Jimenez, Abigail Klein, Victoria Konefal, Dan Feuerriegel, John Paul Lavoisier, Stephen Nichols, Shi Ne Nielson, Ashley Puzemis Notable individuals who have succumbed to pancreatic cancer in recent years include Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, talk show host Jerry Springer, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, producer Quincy Jones and U.S. Representative John Lewis, to name a few Donations can still be made by visiting PanCAN PurpleStride is generously supported by leading national partner, Revolution Medicines, and national sponsors Ipsen and AbbVie. For more information about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its urgent mission to save lives, visit or follow PanCAN on X, Instagram, and Facebook. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is the leading organization dedicated to advancing progress against pancreatic cancer. We empower patients and caregivers with the resources and knowledge they need to advocate for the care they deserve; we are pioneering the advancement of an early detection strategy for pancreatic cancer and revolutionizing the development of advanced and personalized treatments; and we are building and mobilizing the pancreatic cancer field to ensure better outcomes for all those who face pancreatic cancer today and all those who will fight this disease tomorrow. Media Contacts:Stephanie Berman, Smithhouse Strategy, 917-617-5667, stephanie@ Vasquez, PanCAN, 310-697-9129, jvasquez@
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
PanCAN Purple Stride raises over $160k to battle pancreatic cancer
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – Survivors, friends, family, caregivers, and researchers gathered at James Island County Park Saturday morning to take steps to end pancreatic cancer. Participants in the PanCAN Purple Stride walk this morning raised over $160,000, beating their goal. The money will help local individuals affected by pancreatic cancer. Some of the funding will be used to offer free and personalized support through PanCAN patient services, provide molecular testing and personalized treatment recommendations for free through PanCAN's Know Your Tumor, support research for new treatments and early detection methods, and create hope around a disease with a five-year survival rate of 13%. Top fundraisers and teams were also recognized on the event day. Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Rob Fowler emceed this year's event. 'PurpleStride is an amazing day where survivors, families, caregivers, friends, physicians, and researchers celebrate people currently affected, honor those we've lost, and take steps to end pancreatic cancer. Honored to be to be the emcee again this year!' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
