Pic from "Worth Fighting For." It's Patrick, showing his muscles while his dad, and a friend smile on. I know wherever Patrick is, he has not lost his incredible spirit.
Dear Friends,
On June 25th and 26th, hundreds of supporters from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C., to participate in the sixth annual Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day. I will be attending this empowering event with them to strongly encourage Congress to pass the Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S. 362/H.R. 733) before the end of the year.
This is our moment. Our devoted advocates around the country have succeeded in getting an overwhelming bi-partisan majority of the House and a near majority of the Senate to co-sponsor this game-changing bill. Thanks to your hard work, the bill has more co-sponsors and more bi-partisan support than any other piece of legislation that has been referred to the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the bill. Building this level of support is an amazing achievement, but we cannot afford to rest now when we are so close to victory.
In an average Congress, only three percent of bills become law. Many of the bills that do not get passed even have strong support among members of Congress and are good policy. A motivated “army of heroes” who relentlessly push to get a bill passed is often the key difference between the bills that become law and those that don’t.
If you haven’t already done so, I hope that you will mark your calendar to participate in the Three Week Challenge to Victory, which starts on June 12th, which just happens to be what would have been, my husband’s and my 37th wedding anniversary! http://pancan.org/section_get_involved/advocate/advocacy_action_center.php.
This Challenge will help to amplify our voices on Advocacy Day. The three challenges are easy activities that you can do from home to help draw congressional attention to the bill and culminates in our annual National Call-In on June 26th. http://www.pancan.org/section_get_involved/advocate/advocacy_day_2012/national_call-in.html
Patrick and me in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 4 months after his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Patrick believed in the power of advocacy and asked Congress to provide additional cancer research funding in the months before his passing in an impassioned editorial in the Washington Post. I know it would have meant a lot to him to have this flag carried on, and that we continue to raise awareness and bring attention to this difficult disease. He would be proud of the work the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is doing to accelerate research progress and create hope.
On June 26, I ask you to support me, and hundreds and hundreds of our passionate advocates on Capitol Hill! Stand up for those who are battling the disease. Stand up for those yet to be diagnosed. Stand up for those who are gone.
For me personally, I can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate Patrick’s and my wedding anniversary Tuesday, June 12th, than by kicking-off the Three Week Challenge to Victory, which leads to our oh- so-most-important National Call-In Day on June 26th. In a way, I feel that Patrick is with me, and we are doing this together – hand-in-hand. And I know with all of our help, we will get this done. We will get this bill passed! I want to see the people fighting pancreatic cancer be given the hope that my husband fought so hard for! I know he does, too.
Please join me as I stand up in Patrick’s memory, for all the loved ones we’ve lost to pancreatic cancer, and those “in the fight” now!
Yes!
Lisa Niemi Swayze
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Chief Ambassador of Hope
TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!
If you wish to learn more about this issue – http://www.pancan.org/section_get_involved/advocate/learn_our_issues.php#1_enacting_funding
Your support in our battle is so appreciated… Funny, my blog today was about an intervew we just did for our local PurpleStride and about Advocay Day… I am a Purple Warrior and like you, I battle for the love of my life stolen from me entirely too soon… For Edward, Patrick and little Denali who lost his battle at only 11 yrs. old – We Fight For You… together we WILL Know It, Fight It and END IT…. This WILL be the year our voices are heard… I am keeping the faith…
I am not usually an emotional wreck anymore, I keep it pretty contained, but not this week… This is HIS week in Cleveland and PurpleStride 2011 was one of his best days…. His Team continued by kicking major butt this year… Ed’s All Star Dream Team will be heard through me on the Hill on Tuesday 6.26 !!!! And when I turn 49 without my best friend and love on 6.28 I will have many reasons to celebrate his life and our love!
Much Appreciation…. MK
Fantastic you’ll be there, Sista.
A bitter sweet Happy Anniversary Lisa! Sending thoughts…prayers and support for your cause! He is with you – standing by you every step of the way and VERY PROUD!!!
I pray that all your work will have a positive outcome. I would not ever want to see anyone go through what Patrick went through, although I do know of some who have. God Bless you and all your work.
Advocacy is so important and while we can take a break, it can not end! I live for those “little wins, ” knowing each one brings us one step closer to everything “worth fighting for”….Preserving our wild horses is one cause I have faithfully been behind for about 7 years now. I first learned about PanCan in 2004 when a good friend was diagnosed. In memory of Robin and Patrick, it is my pleasure and truly an honor to express my voice and my energy to change the course! p.s. Enjoy this special day, Lisa, and you go girl while in DC!!.
You are one amazing lady!! i wish i could be there to support you , but unfortunatly due to a small matter of me living in the uk i can’t. xx
Send some good wishes out way, especially on the 25th and 26th. Thanks.
I will indeed,and i will be thinking of you all. Big hugs xx
Same here.If I had the flight money i would be there. Full supprot behind you and the 100’s.
Just got back from Maryland, can’t make it on June 26th but will do whatever I can from home. Wow, and you were worried about what to do for your aniversary?! You are absolutely amazing! How do you come up with all of these creative writing ideas? Hope you are doing well today, we all know it’s a tough one for you. God bless you and keep up the good work. Big Texas Hug.
Lisa….special thoughts for you today. May this be a good day, filled with joy, sweet memories, few tears and laughter.
The pancreatic cancer research act is a great and worthy cause and will have my full support.
Take care.
Barb
…now I must go out and buy a purple outfit…..with shoes.
Thank you, Barbara. And hah, I have to go out and buy something purple for Washington myself!
In France there is an expression which says that ” it is the small rivers which make the big streams”. By dint of perserevance and stubbornness, we succeed big things. Go on, don’t give up.
Hi Lisa,
I just read it, and I think this is only for the U.S?
I live in Europe, the Netherlands, and I would like to know if there is any chance for me to support this.
(Also, the links on in this article only work by copy and paste, and not by just clicking on it).
Have a blessed day!
Love,
Dagmar
Yes, it is only for the US (we’re trying to get a bill passed in Congress so researchers, doctors, and scientists, have a fighting chance at this disease). Maybe you know someone in the US, and can pass along this message? Other than that, sending your prayers and best wishes for us would be great. We’ll take all the help we can get!
Hi Lisa!
I’m also from the Netherlands and I will send my prayers, thoughts and best wishes on June 25th and 26th and I will post this on my facebook-page cause I have some friends in the US!
I’ll also wear purple clothes those days..
How amazing that the kick off starts on your special day! So great you’re doing all of this for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network!
Ineke
Xx
Fantastic Lisa!
Your determination, passion, willpower never ceases to amaze me… Although I know you have blogged that you sometimes feel worthless blogs like this one show how strong you truly are! What a huge coincidence with the date though. I hope all goes well on the 26th and I am sure you are right and that Patrick is right there with you although I am certain he is always with you anyway…
Love & hugs
Jo x
In that I can help her from Spain? My grandmother also died of pancreatic cancer.
Thank you for the thought, Berta. This one is only for the US. But please, send good (and victorious!) thoughts our way, especially on the 25th & 26th.
I shall do so. I think of you these days, and be sure that tinenen all my moral support.
Luck!
Hi Lisa,
Is there any possibility to support you from Europe? I could maybe buy one of these purplestride shirts? This won’t really help, but maybe a little bit… Of course I’ll send a lot of positive energy and thoughts to you all!
If you tell me, where I can buy one, I’ll do it!
Tani
I know they have a store on PanCan.org. But that’s entirely up to you! I do know that people all over world are suffering and fighting this disease. Hopefully, our effort will help them, too.
Dear Lisa
our thoughts will be with you and wish you much success.
I will take what purplish on this days.
(((( big hugs to you))))
Love Greetings from Amberg (Germany)
yours
Simone
I’ll cross my fingers for that you be all heard. I’ll think so hard you’ll feel like one more person. I’ll light a candle for his light shows you the way in this fight right. All because I live in Belgium. I am wholeheartedly with the association.
God bless you.
Thank you for the candle. I bet we’ll all feel it in Washington.
That is amazing that the three week challenge begins on your anniversary! I have received e-mails about Advocacy Day in Washington, wish I could be a part of it. Thanks for all you do to draw awareness to this disease. My family has been affected by it… twice. I will certainly participate in the challenge. Good luck in Washington D.C.
Dear Lisa,
sending you my Love for your special day..! I do know that it is so hard for you…but I`m sure that Buddy is with you… with every step you do…he is smiling and he is so very proud of you…!!
A deep and true Love that you both share is forever… sending you a big big Hug… all the way from Germany!!
Take care … Your friend in Germany..Regine!
Lisa,
I cannot wait to meet you at Advocacy Day in a few weeks! My dad went through the exact same treatment as Patrick, so his passing was SO hard on me. My dad is in the midst of fighting a second round of this terrible disease right now on his lung and my mom and I find comfort in your book. Your story is so incredibly similar to ours and it’s comforting to know that we are not alone.
Thank you for your efforts in finding a cure for this horrific disease!
Marcy 🙂
Lisa, I couldn’t thank you enough for you amazing work with PanCan. I’m unfortunately not going to be able to make it to Advocacy Day because of work, but I will be sending out tons of positive thoughts and prayers to DC! And, like always, I will be participating in the National Call-In. For your Buddy, my Granny, and all of the others who have lost the fight or are fighting now…together we WILL be victorious and get this bill passed! BTW, just completed Week 1 of the challenge!
As always, much, much love to you! XXX
PS. Hmm…I think I need to go shopping for purple nursing scrubs to wear to work on the 26th! What ya think? 🙂
Hah! I know just the color purple scrubs you’re talking about. My favs!
🙂
Back at you!
Hi Lisa-
Thank you for everything you are doing. I lost my father to PC in November of 2010 it was so devasting and now I am determined to make a difference. I am running 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I am about to do number 10 this weekend. I hope I get to thank you in person. You are amazing. Thank you for all you do. xoxo Julie
Lisa,
Thank you for sharing all of this information about Advocacy day. I will spread the news too from Marathon number 11 to the world. xoxo
Thank you, Marathon Goddess!
I am sending love vibes your way for your sad anniversary. Norman died 28 days after our 36th anniversary. (Unfortunately, we knew it was to be our last.) Light a candle and commune with your beloved this evening.
I used to live in MD, about 8 miles from DC. No longer. Sorry I can not be there with you on the 25-26th, but I will support you all in spirit. Good luck with your cause.
Sorry for you loss, Ellen. I’m sending love, and light your way. XL
Linda, Thank you for being such a strong advocate for us, I’m sure Patrick is proud of the work you do.
I was diagnosed a year after Patrick (adenocarcinoma stage 2b), I’m one of the fortunate few who can say they have lived with this for years. I was also fortunate enough to become involved with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and will be there with you and the 100’s of other advocates for that very powerful day. Last years Advocacy Day was an amazing experience and with this year being much more important I can only imagine how much passion and emotion will be there. I hope I get the chance to meet you and shake your hand. Patrick was an inspiration to me early on in my battle, the fact that he kept working and living his life on his terms has shaped a lot of my actions over the last few years. He was taken from us far too soon.
I hope I get to meet you there, too, Jonathan. Congratulations on your fight! Sending you my best. L
Hi Lisa,
A special recall for your wedding’s anniversary, I hope you’re right this day and all of us have remembered Patrick and you as you were in your wedding’s day. I would like could support anyway for the pancreatic cancer research, but in Spain i think there isn’t any association about it. By the way, you know my praies and my thoughts are with you and with all the people that suffer this disease.
Thank you Lisa for sharing with us all about PCR, is a great light for many people your fight on and on.
Take care and best wishes and my support in this illness . XXL
Maite Sánchez
You and Patrick are so amazing and my hero’s, as you both have been a massive part in my life and i am so proud of the wonderful work you do Lisa… And yes i will be thinking of you both on the 25th & 26th just like i do every week… God bless from the nite owl in England…
Lisa,
I live in Australia so I am unable to join you in this fight. But I wish you and or the others out there fighting to get this bill passed all the luck in the world, and hopefully justice will be served and it will be passed. I personally will be showing my support by wearing purple for the next three weeks, in Patrick’s memory, and for you who has worked so hard to continue to bring awareness to to such a horrible cancer that has taken so many good people in this world.
Thank you, Catherine. And you know what? Strides we make here in the US are going to help everyone all over the world.
You’re right, it’s a global struggle. The disease has no boundaries. We must all mobilize.
Good Luck, Lisa.i admire your hard work.I can´t be present there with you because i live too far but sending you my prayers and thoughts.I´m sure your husband is very proud of you watching over you.
Hugs
Here in germany are many many peops who are with you and your purpose Lisa!
We all can not be there but we send our prayers and good thoughts, of course!
It is a good cause to meet and to spread the love and the passion. To fight.
Know it. Fight it. End it. <3
XXL
Have you heard they are about to make a reboot of Dirty Dancing? What a weird idea…
Hi Lisa,
I’d like to be in Washington D.C. to support this bill, but I don’t think I can go. I’ve sent an email to the newspapers in my area, and I hope they’ll print a story to let more people know about this. I hope you’re doing okay, and that Congress will finally pass the bill, and we’ll be one step closer to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. I will do everything I can do at home for this cause, and the best of hopes on the 25th and 26th. I hope you have a good day, and thank you for making this website and writing your wonderful book. Lisa, you and Patrick are soulmates, and you’re both wonderful and inspiring people.
Good luck and wishes, Patricia
Thank you, Patricia!!
Yes, his spirit is all around!
Sending my thoughts your way and giving you a big hug.
Lisa,.Happy belated Anniversary. Thought of you and wondered how you were dealing at this difficult time. Forging ahead on this journey to battle this horrific disease , what a great way to memoralize your husband. I’m sure you made him proud. “When those you love die, the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitmitment that you are going to take whatever lesson that person or animal was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life. Their havin been in your life changed you in some beneficial way, and making that commitment is the only way you can ease the pain of their absence. But more than that, it’s a positive way to keep their spirit alive in th world, by keeping alive in yourself”.
Recognize it? What a great message. Patrick was so intuitive, it’s almost as though he is speaking to you (to us) from wher he is. What a great message, it should bring you comfort. Sorry can’t make DC but supporting you every step of the way. Will donate in Patrick’s memory.sending rainbows to you xoxo. Nadine
YEA!! LISA!! Where do you find all this energy?? Your devotion to this cause in Patrick’s memory is laudable. Talk about taking the bit and running with it. I will absolutely do what I can to support this great cause. I have already made several donations through various websites and purchases. I cannot be there in person with you, but I will definitely be there in spirit. God Bless and hopefully this is the first giant step toward a cure for this awful cancer.
Sending prayers and love-
Ingrid Mennella
Thank you, Ingrid. And spread the word! XL
Hi Lisa, I’m as allways a bit late but didn’t want to miss to tell you how much I admire you for dedicating this special day to the fight against pancreatic cancer. Others would have stayed at home to wallow in self-pity. So, as so often since I join you at your blog: HATS OFF to you!
My thoughts are with you and your combatants on June 26 and 27.
Feel hugged,
Kerstin
Hi Lisa,
Well, i live in Europe in Spain, it’s difficult for me travelling to Washington for sharing with you and all the people with this disease, but if I shall living in the US, i’ll be there sure for your support. All you do for this disease is a hard and incredible work, and i hope the congress or who could do something to respect, taking to respect this illness seriously and they could help you and other people.
From me, i send you all my support, prays and 25-26th i’ll be there with you with my thoughts and I remembered Patrick, as i do always. He lives in our minds, he never went and with this opportunity the pancreatic research, we never forget him and we’ll fight with you from wherever we were for your support and your comfort. You deserve it this and so much. You’re a wonderful and amazing woman, fighter and Patrick must be proud of you from wherever he finded.
Very good luck in these days, my thoughts will be with you. I’m sure all be fine, there will be a great progress with this meeting.
All my loving for you, specially in these days. A Big hug and a kiss of purple colour. I promise wear in this days of this colour only for this disease and for you. XL
Maite Sánchez
Thank you, Maite!!!
Hi Lisa
My thoughts will be with you all and here in sunny england I will be supporting you too by wearing purple on both of those days sending you lots of love God bless take care love julie XXOX
My sister died of pancreatic cancer in 2007 at the age of 40. I attended advocacy days in Washington D.C. in 2008 & 2009. This year I can not attend, however I will be supporting the national call in! I am encouraging everyone who can not travel to Washington D.C. to call their representatives and senators. By using the links provided by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, supporters can quickly identify who to call and also can get a script to use to help frame their comments. Please don’t underestimate how improtant it is to support the National Call in. In 2009, when visiting in the office of our reprsentative, it was VERY powerful to have his assistant report they had received many, many calls from our district. In fact one of the calls was from the father of one of the woman in our group! This was an eye opener for me. Our voices ARE heard. We just have to do it! Thanks to all who advocate and support this important cause to help find a cure for pancreatic cancer.
Hear! Hear! You said it, Susan!
Hi Lisa,
So nice to see you smile.
My gran died of pancreatic cancer, she only lived for less than 3 months after diagnosis. My gran was like my mum. Sadly my own relationship with my mum is not good. My gran died 16 years ago but by god I miss her every day. Somedays it feels so raw, I’m not over it, I don’t think I ever will be. You never forget but you learn to live with the pain, you do heal and life becomes more manageable but when I visit her grave I cry every time wishing she was here. Her love and support was my world.
I feel her with me still, I feel her presence, some days I feel I’m losing her presence and I’m scared I’ve lost her that she’s not coming back , my worst feeling is that she’s gone and I will never feel her presence again but then she comes back. Your Patrick will always be with you. That’s what gives me strength on bad days in my life. She wills me on, keeps me going.
well done on having the courage and strength to draw attention to this nasty disease. We will find a cure!
Hi Lisa,
Good luck in D.C. We are happy to have you.
I just did my first walk there on Saturday and it was amazing. Next time my team will be
bigger and better.
I don’t think I’ll make it down there on advocacy day but will be calling in for sure!
PS Hope you had a great anniversary day-you are a strong woman indeed!
Hi Lisa,
This Father’s Day weekend alone I have read of three people who have died recently of PC. I will not be in DC on June 25 or 26, but I will be calling into to my legislators to pass S362/HR733. I always wear several purple ponytail holders on my wrist. They are a good conversation starter. I walked in the 2011 St. Louis, Missouri PurpleStride and have already signed up for the 2012 St. Louis PurpleStride on September 30. When possible, I have also donated to the PanCan Action Network and to Patrick’s PC Research Fund at Stanford. I hope you can tell from the responses to your Advocacy Day blog that you have inspired many people to do as much as they can in this fight. Bless your heart, your energy, and most of all, your love for Patrick.
Carol
Thank you!
Lisa, wouldn’t it be great if at the PanCan ceremonies, someone would sell purple balloons (for the benefit of PanCan) so the families could tie a note to their loved ones/friends and everyone let go of them at the same time for the nation to see. I really think that would attract attention more so than anything else could. Have a prayer and total quietness, then an uproar when balloons are released all staged on the White House lawn!!
Cont….Or even write with a black marker the message/name on the balloons themselves without adding the note.
I betcha they have rules about releasing balloons, but of course it’s a great idea!
I have sent emails to MYOPEN Congress to pass the H.R.733/S.362 bills. So our 3 reps for Texas will be covered…hope there are plenty more of us out there doing the same!! Sorry, I couldn’t physically be there for support.
Thanks you!
Hi Lisa,
I’m so sorry to say I won’t be able to make it to Advocacy Day due to work. We live just over an hour away in Baltimore. Wish it could have been on a weekend. I would have loved to meet you (if possible) and to have heard you spesk on behalf of Patrick and all our loved ones that didn’t make it thru this monster disease.
I’ll be participating in the National call-in.
I’ll be there in spirit & love.
Sending you a warm fuzzy (hug) !
Ginny
When we ran into you and Jen on the House side of the Hill and caught our hugs, I have to tell you Lisa- it made the knee surgery pain a bit more bearable. The moment we left you, I thought of Patrick dancing on his knee in pain, and by God, I was going to make that Senate meeting on time for him. We got there and we got the signature! Slam dunk Patrick! …. We all agree its a crappy club to belong to- but together we are powerful and we will change history- for Patrick, for you, for all those lost and fighting and all the families that walk the journey with them…we’re gonna get the “Frigging Bill” passed. We love you- Ralph and Mariann
Lisa, all you’re doing by Patrick and by each person who died or about, is fantastic. You have guts, and word carcter .. Since his death you continue to fight for a cure and I’m in with you. Congratulations * – *
Lisa never answers my messages .. But the day I fell off the chair to answer