Hundreds of people gathered in Lower Manhattan on Saturday to help in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
The march was organized by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PurpleStride at Pier 17.
They emceed “News All Day” host Ruschell Boone, who is recovering from his own battle with pancreatic cancer.
Ruschell Boone and her husband Tod Boone with their two children during the walk.
The act reminded Boone how lucky she is to have survived pancreatic cancer.
His doctors detected the cancer early and, after a chemotherapy treatment, they removed the tumor in November.
Since then, Boone says there is no evidence of detectable cancer cells in his body.
“I can’t believe it’s here,” Boone said. “That’s the honest truth. I knew I was going to give it my all and my will and fight to live, but there’s a part of me that’s still really stunned that I made it.”
“It’s personal to me and that’s why I’ll be here,” Boone said. “I don’t care if it rains or snows or there’s a tornado, because I know what it’s like to survive.”
He energized the crowd by sharing his experiences with pancreatic cancer.
“Any survivor here would tell you that they would not be here without their caretakers,” he said. “And I wouldn’t be here without my husband, Tod Boone.”
The walk is part of a national effort that included 60 events across the country to raise money to cure pancreatic cancer and support patients and loved ones fighting the disease.
Guests included Lisa Swayze, widow of the late actor Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer, and award-winning songwriter Franke Previte, who was a friend of Swayze’s.
Many participants in Saturday’s march turned out to honor a loved one who lost their battle with pancreatic cancer.
The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is discouraging.
One in four people survive one year after being diagnosed.
Many people only find out they have pancreatic cancer weeks or months before succumbing to the disease.
2023-04-30 14:08:00
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