Ways We Help
Pancreatic cancer’s survival rate in the USA is a mere 13%, the lowest among major cancers, with a concerning 75% of patients diagnosed at stage 3 or later. Sadly, early detection methods and curative treatments remain elusive.
The Whipple procedure, a potentially life-saving treatment, is limited to just one in five patients due to late-stage discovery. Though survival rates have improved from 4% in the mid-nineties, these figures are still far from satisfactory.
To make a real impact, we are dedicated to driving change through research advancements and providing crucial financial aid to patients.
*All statistics sourced from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 report*
Funding Critical Research
At our core, we are dedicated to advancing the fight against pancreatic cancer through funding critical research. Since our founding in 2008, we have raised over $3.5 million to support groundbreaking research efforts, focusing on areas that we believe have the greatest potential to save lives: early detection of pancreatic cancer and curative treatments.
We’ve directed funding towards several potentially life-saving studies. One of our recent grants went towards the establishment of the Precede Study, the world’s largest high-risk consortium for genetic mutations linked to pancreatic cancer. This study received a $1.25 million grant from us. We also helped create the first high-risk clinic for pancreatic cancer in Nebraska at UNMC in 2018, and in 2022, we announced the founding of the Pantelidis Family Grant, worth $262,000.
Recently, we announced a $750,000 grant to Hartford Healthcare to create the largest high-risk pancreatic cancer screening program statewide. This grant is the largest philanthropic donation to pancreatic cancer research efforts that has been made in Connecticut to date. While it will undoubtedly save lives across the Nutmeg State, the goal is to create a model that can be repeated all over the country.
Providing Patients With Much-Needed Assistance
At Project Purple, we recognize the toll pancreatic cancer can take on patients and their loved ones. We are committed to providing essential support and resources to those impacted by this devastating disease. If you or a loved one is struggling with pancreatic cancer, we encourage you to visit our Patients & Families resource page to learn more about our support services.
Patient Financial Aid
At Project Purple, we understand that a pancreatic cancer diagnosis can lead to significant financial strain due to medical bills and living expenses. Many patients cannot work due to the physical toll of the disease and treatment, which only compounds their financial burden.
To alleviate some of this stress, we offer a patient financial aid program to assist with living expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, medical bills, co-pays, and prescription costs. We have already helped more than 1,300 families through this program, providing over $1 million in aid to help cover the costs of daily living and medical treatment.
One unique aspect of our program is that we can pay bill collectors directly on behalf of the patient, so they do not have to worry about navigating the payment process themselves. At Project Purple, we want to help ease the financial strain pancreatic cancer places on patients and their families during treatment.
Blankets of Hope
At Project Purple, we are committed to providing comfort and support to patients battling pancreatic cancer. Our Blanket of Hope care package is a crucial part of this mission, and we are proud to have distributed over 3,200 of these packages to patients in need.
Each care package includes a soft, comforting purple blanket and other items designed to offer comfort and ease during treatment. We understand that a warm and loving environment is crucial for those fighting this disease, and we are proud to provide these care packages as a symbol of our commitment to their well-being.
Spreading Awareness Through Powerful Stories
The team at Project Purple believes in the power of storytelling. We’ve encountered some of the most powerful stories of survival, love, and hope in our pursuit of a world without pancreatic cancer. Over the past few years, we’ve made it our mission to share these stories to educate the public, empower patients, and inspire others to take action. Moving forward, we’re looking to make this even more of a focus by ramping up our multimedia efforts.
The Project Purple Podcast: Spreading Hope Through Shared Experiences Since 2018
The Project Purple Podcast started as a small initiative we took a chance on in 2018. Since then, we’ve produced over 275 episodes and garnered over 100,000 plays and counting. Our weekly episodes feature inspiring stories of survivors, advocates, caregivers, fitness coaches, and individuals from all walks of life who share our vision. You can tune in and subscribe on popular platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music, and more. We’ve also expanded to filming full episodes for YouTube, catering to those who prefer a visual experience.
Sharing Stories Through Video: Bringing the Energy of Our Biggest Events to You
We use various video platforms like YouTube, Instagram Reels, Facebook Watch, and TikTok to deliver inspiring content to our supporters. While nothing beats the in-person experience, we strive to make our viewers feel the same energy from our major events and witness the dedication of patients and caregivers as they share their stories.
