Team “Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer.”
LOS ANGELES, CA (LA ELEMENTS) 4/2/2025 – “Drake was the most energetic, optimistic and compassionate man in Salem, and we know he would want us to focus on joy, togetherness and fun as we move toward a future devoid of pancreatic cancer,” says actress Martha Madison. “So, with a heart full of Drake’s team spirit and a crew full of Salem’s most familiar faces, we invite you to join in our first ever PurpleStride team walk in Los Angeles on April 26th. We’d love to see you there.”
Madison played Belle Black on Days of Our Lives. Together with Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), they lead team “Hogey’s Home Runners” in honor of their onscreen father Drake Hogestyn who played John Black. Hogestyn, along with actress Deirdre Hall, created one of daytime TV’s most enduring love stories in John and Marlena. Hogey’s Home Runners is just one of the teams assembled to take part in the Pacreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) fundraiser, PurpleStride Los Angeles Billed as “the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer,” this event aims to not only raise money, but also awareness of pancreatic cancer.
Cutting the ribbon at PurpleStride Los Angeles will be Lisa Swayze. The writer, actress, and dancer is the wife of the late actor Patrick Swayze who battled pancreatic cancer.
Eric Idle will join the Los Angeles walk for the third consecutive year. The British actor and comedian is a five-year pancreatic cancer survivor.
Eric Idle returns to PurpleStride LA.
Talent from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine including Kitty Swink and Armin Shimerman, will be giving a stellar boost to PurpleStride LA. Joanthan Frakes, John Billingsley and TV writer-producer Juan Carlos Coto will also boldly go on the fundraising walk here in LA. Coto will be walking in memory of his brother, Star Trek Enterprise Executive Producer Manny Coto who lost his life to the disease in 2023. All five artists will be leading the team, “Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer.”
Joan Vassos will be at PurpleStride Washington D.C
PurpleStride is a growing national movement and will take place on April 26, 2025 in nearly 60 communities across the U.S. Survivors, supporters and celebrities will participate in the fight against the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%.
PurpleStride Washington D.C. will see Golden Bachelorette star, Joan Vassos, lead team, “It’s Just a Sprain,” in honor of her late husband John, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021.
“When John was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he approached his diagnosis with the same hopeful spirit-‘It’s just a sprain.’ There was no way he was going to be taken out the game. But all the visits to our local oncologists, the trips to MD Anderson in Houston, the unending rounds of chemo and the multiple radiation treatments, just weren’t enough to keep John in the game. He passed away after almost 2 years of fighting this horrible disease,” says Vassos. “Our family is so grateful to finally have a way to honor John’s memory in a way that would have been meaningful to him-by helping others. Please join us in keeping John’s memory alive.”
Providence, Rhode Island will get PurpleStride representation from Judge Frank Caprio. The Chief Municipal Judge in Providence and former Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, is a pancreatic cancer survivor. As seen on the 4-time Emmy nominated show, Caught in Providence, Caprio is known as “The World’s Nicest Judge.” Judge Caprio leads team, “Don’t Judge Me” as part of PurpleStride Rhode Island.
Pancreatic cancer has claimed a number of our most beloved public figures. Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek, U.S. Representative John Lewis and Aretha Franklin are among those we have lost to this terrible disease.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) has emerged as the leading organization dedicated to advancing progress against pancreatic cancer. They empower patients and caregivers with the resources and knowledge they need to advocate for the care they deserve. PanCAN states, “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.” For more information about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its urgent mission to save lives, visit their site.
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. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other illnesses or conditions, most patients are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. Finding a pancreatic tumor early, when it can be surgically removed, is critical for survival. 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.
On our cover: Eric Martsolf and Martha Madison from Days of Our Lives.
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