Community members are participating in Kicking PancreAS, a series of five kilometre [3] run-walk events designed to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research.
These events provide critical visibility for a disease that often lacks public awareness. By gathering participants in public spaces, organizers aim to secure financial support for patient programs and medical research to improve survival rates.
In Regina, Saskatchewan, the event took place around Wascana Lake on Aug. 24, 2024 [1], from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. [2]. The walk was open to runners of all abilities [5]. Local charities, including Craig’s Cause, and community volunteers organized the effort to honor those who died from the disease.
Jeannie DesRochers, a participant in the Regina event, said, "It feels good to bring this kind of awareness out" [6].
The initiative is part of a larger national effort. An event organizer said, "Kicking Pancreas is a series of 12 family‑friendly runs raising funds to fight cancer" [7].
Beyond Saskatchewan, the series has expanded to other regions, including a run held on the waterfront trail in Barrie, Ontario [8]. These events utilize a family-friendly format to encourage wide participation across different demographics.
Organizers use these gatherings to bridge the gap between medical research needs and public funding. The funds collected during these five kilometre [3] events are directed toward patient support systems, and the search for more effective treatments.
“"It feels good to bring this kind of awareness out,"”
The expansion of the Kicking PancreAS series into a 12-city network indicates a strategic move to decentralize fundraising for pancreatic cancer. By utilizing high-visibility community landmarks like Wascana Lake and the Barrie waterfront, the organizers are shifting from traditional clinical fundraising to a grassroots, athletic-based model to reach a younger and more diverse donor base.
