STAR TREK Community Leads Charge in Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer

In a powerful display of unity and compassion, the Star Trek community once again led the charge at this year's Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's (PanCAN) PurpleStride event, a nationwide walk aimed at combating pancreatic cancer. The event, which took place in nearly 60 cities across the United States, drew an impressive turnout of 70,000 participants and succeeded in reaching its ambitious fundraising goal of $19 million.

The Los Angeles segment saw a remarkable gathering of Star Trek celebrities who formed the "Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer" team. Among them was Kitty Swink, a beloved Star Trek guest star and a 20-year survivor of pancreatic cancer. Swink, along with her husband Armin Shimerman of "DS9" fame, "Enterprise" star John Billingsley, Jonathan Frakes from "TNG", and Juan Carlos Coto—honoring his late brother Manny Coto, an executive producer on "Enterprise"—spearheaded the fundraising efforts. Their team alone raised over $213,000, the highest amount by any group this year.

This year was particularly meaningful for Swink, marking her 20th year as a survivor and her fourth year participating with the Trek team. "This is my 7th Purple Stride, 4th since we formed Team Trek. They are always hopeful, joyful, sometimes inspiring. But this one? It felt like we are on the cusp of real change for pancreatic cancer patients. That was magical. And that Trek is a small part of that? Well, that is what made me the happiest. We, our community, helped," Swink shared with TrekMovie.

The annual PurpleStride event serves as PanCAN's primary fundraising mechanism to support its mission, which includes funding critical research and providing free services to patients and their families. Celebrities and notable figures, including Lisa Niemi Swayze, Eric Idle, Miss America Madison Marsh, and Rosario Dawson, also participated, highlighting the widespread support and commitment to the cause.

Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of PanCAN, emphasized the significance of community involvement during the opening ceremony in New York City. "All of you here today are making a difference. Just as I chose to get involved 24 years ago, you, too, are making a choice to get involved and to fight back. With your support, PanCAN will continue to raise awareness, invest in critical research, provide free services to patients and their families, and accelerate progress through advocacy," she stated.

Despite the challenges, there's hope on the horizon. This January, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer reached a new high of 13%, marking the first time since 2017 that the survival rate has increased for three consecutive years. This promising trend underscores the ongoing need for support and the vital role of events like PurpleStride in bringing us closer to a future where pancreatic cancer can be defeated.