The most amazing people

After yesterday's Okla. Affiliate meeting for PanCan, I can help so much more than originally thought. These amazing volunteers left me emotionally drained by the time I got home because the passion for this cause and ideas flying around the room had me in tears.
I've volunteered to be the Affiliate Event Co-Coordinator with a girl from Tulsa, Brandy Glick. Her husband, who was a doctor, died 9 months ago today. She'll cover the eastern half of the state, I'll do the western. We already have a Cancer Walk scheduled for Nov. 7 called the OU Garden Walk in the gardens at the OU Health Sciences Center. That's being organized by a bunch of hospitals and cancer care specialists in pancreatic cancer research to support the families. Funds raised will help with transportation costs and other necessities for families. Knowing from experience how expensive the trips back and forth can be, I'm helping with the promotion of it. So you MUST be there!
With all my contacts in media, I'm sharing them with Bill King, media coordinator, to get more press for the cause because November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. Bill is Colleen's husband who I mentioned in the last blog. The group already has about 15 proclamations from cities all over the state with about 30 in process. The group is hoping to have the State proclamation read at the OU Garden Walk.
The doctors here in Oklahoma are really making strides into early detection and treatment methods. At this point, the goal is to identify the biomarkers on micro-RNA using devices such as deep sequencing machines to find a serum used for early detection. For 75% of diagnosed patients, living out the year will not be an option. The 5 year survival rate is less than 5%. HOW is this acceptable??
I'm also a big advocate of the federal resolution H.R. 745 for Cancer Research and Education Act. It has received significant bipartisan support with 158 of 222 signatures needed. (as of today, 9/18/09) Please ask your state representative to become a part of the healing!
Too excited for words that God has placed these opportunities in my way. Seems every experience over the last 10 years has led up to these moments and it will only get better!