Bishop’s Gaiters hope to help Tackle Pancreatic Cancer this weekend
The Bishop’s Gaiters have partnered with the Craig's Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society (CCPCS) for its first annual football charity, Tackle Pancreatic Cancer. Hosted at Mount Allison University and Bishop’s University this year, the event will occur during the 2 p.m. football game on October 20th, and aims to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and encourage donations to the cause. This year, Gaiters Liam Patton, Keagan Hughes, and Aidan Moloney are the student-athletes leading the campaign. Hughes hopes to “inspire social change in the community.”
The CCPCS is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Stefanie Condon Oldreive after her father, Craig Schurman Condon, passed away at the age of 63, only 8 weeks after his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Eleven years later, Matt Zwicker, football player at Mount Allison, had his life change for ever when his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Guided by the CCPCS, Zwicker founded the first Tackle Pancreatic Cancer event in 2017 and will lead the campaign in the Maritimes this year as well. To date, more than $20,000 has been donated to patient support and over $2 million to research funding by the CCPCS.
Upon hearing about the initiative through the Bishop’s Gaiters’ coach, Cherif Nicholas, the three Bishop’s students were inspired to make a difference. They chose to become involved in the charitable society, which aims to improve pancreatic cancer awareness, education, patient support, and research.
“Cancer touches many lives in one way or another. It’s important for us to rally together and bring awareness and support to those affected, and more importantly to make a difference in someone's life,” explained Patton. “We as Gaiters are enormously proud to contribute to the fight.”
Pancreatic cancer is projected to become the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, surpassing those caused by breast cancer. Statistics show that around 5,500 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with this disease in 2018, and 4,800 are expected to lose their battle against the cancer. Only 8 per cent of those diagnosed will survive up to five years after the diagnosis.
To participate and support the cause, the Bishop’s Gaiters invite the local population to attend their final game of the season against St. FX on Saturday, October 20th, at 2 p.m. on Coulter Field. Attendees are encouraged to bring hard cash to donate at the game and to wear purple, incidentally the Gaiters’ and pancreatic cancer research movement’s official colour. Those who cannot attend but still wish to donate can do so at https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/craigscausepancreaticcancerso/donationpage-1-1-1.html.