What can a band of motivated people inspired by the cancer fight of one individual accomplish together? Find out in Thanks to Your Support…our 2017 year-in-review.
Kelly’s Heroes along with its donors, volunteers and sponsors raised thousands of dollars for cancer research, increased awareness of pancreatic cancer and its symptoms and donated to worthy local causes, carrying on Steve Kelly’s fierce hope for better outcomes for those facing pancreatic cancer.
With your help, our efforts this year included:
- Gathering for good, with our annual St. Patrick’s Day Party and Teed Off! Golf Outing raising more than $20,000. We also fielded two teams at PurpleStride in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
- Supporting research, with our fund-raising efforts donated to patient clinical trials and research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, where Steve Kelly participated in two clinical trials. Kelly’s Heroes-supported researchers Bert Vogelstein, Dung Le, MD, and Lei Zheng, MD, are leading efforts in areas such as introduction of Keytruda, the first immunotherapy drug accepted to the mass market for several types of cancer including a specific type of pancreatic cancer, and development of a liquid biopsy to increase early detection.
- Joining a global effort, through our membership in the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition. Kelly’s Heroes attended the annual conference of this global partnership of nonprofits and joined in the planning and execution of World Pancreatic Cancer Day to raise awareness of the third leading cause of cancer death and educate people about its symptoms.
- Engaging our local community, with donations of gift cards for cancer patients in need at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and scholarships to local high school students pursuing healthcare careers.
Thank you for waging hope with us!