Linda Cantu, City of Richland Hills

Dear Linda:

I am writing on behalf of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the estimated 37,660 Americans who will die of pancreatic cancer in 2011, approximately 2260 of whom live in Texas. In 2011, pancreatic cancer will afflict more than 44,030 Americans, 74% of whom will die within one year of their diagnosis, and 94% of whom will die within five years of diagnosis.

As I believe I told you last year, I lost my brother at age 59, 15 months after diagnosis, and our niece at age 45, 20 months after diagnosis. Both died in 2002 of pancreatic cancer. My cousin died in 2009, 5 weeks after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Before his death, my brother asked that I do all I could to increase awareness and help change the future for others who would face the devastation of pancreatic cancer.

To date, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and it is the deadliest, with the lowest survival rate of any major cancer. Furthermore, there has been little improvement in the survival rates over the last forty years. We need your help, and Mayor Ragan’s as a sponsor, to shine a spotlight on this disease and finally make progress in developing treatments and early detection tools. By issuing a City of Richland Hills proclamation supporting the observance of November 2011 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, you can help us to raise awareness in our community.

I have attached a draft of the proclamation text for your review. I am happy to provide additional official Pancreatic Cancer Action Network material, including pancreatic cancer facts and statistics and National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding information, upon request.

We request that a total of 2 originals of the proclamation, received before November 11 so we can display them at our PurpleStride event, to be made available for our records. Please contact me at 817-578-1791, or email vgriffin@pancanvolunteer.org, with any questions. I am not sure if there is anyone in the area who will be able to attend a City Council meeting for presentation, but can ask our group to confirm if anyone could do this. Otherwise, the proclamations could be mailed to my address below. I look forward to working with you to issue a proclamation that will recognize November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and bring much needed attention to this deadly disease. Thank you for your interest in this important issue.

Sincerely,

Virginia Griffin-
My mailing address is:

8233 Shady Valley Dr.

Benbrook, TX 76116

vgriffin@pancanvolunteer.org
My Cellphone: 817-578-1791

Volunteer Dallas Fort Worth Affiliate - Fort Worth area