The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, PanKind, has launched the Remember September campaign to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer.
PanKind chief executive Michelle Stewart said Remember September provides a unique opportunity for Australians, including those in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges, to help solve one of the country’s “fastest growing” health concerns.
“Survival rates are unacceptably low and it is a devastating disease with dire statistics. Investment in research is critical to increasing the very low survival rate, yet funding remains desperately low,” she said.
The campaign encourages people to give up a vice of their choosing, like caffeine, sugar or alcohol, or choosing to walk 63 kilometres over the month of September “to honour the 63 Australians that pancreatic cancer claims each week”.
According to PanKind, pancreatic cancer is the third most common cancer killer in Australia with a low five-year survival rate of 11.5 per cent, dropping to about 6 per cent in rural and regional areas.
“In its 8th year, PanKind’s Remember September campaign is rolling out across Australia and to date has raised over $2 million for pancreatic cancer research, including projects that focus on new treatments and the early detection of the disease,” PanKind said.
Details: www.rememberseptember.org.au
