Castlemaine couple Marianne and Ross Allan are continuing their support of PanKind – an organisation exclusively dedicated to improving outcomes for Australians impacted by pancreatic cancer.
The pair made a 10-year pledge in 2023 to make a significant annual donation to support research that supports early detection of this insidious disease.
They are also encouraging local residents to pull on their best purple outfit and join hundreds of passionate PanKind supporters for the 12th annual ‘Put Your Foot Down Walk’ at Kings Domain in Melbourne this Sunday.
These local residents say every step you take and every dollar you raise helps fund ground-breaking research and much-needed patient support programs that will change outcomes for patients impacted by pancreatic cancer.
Marianne and Ross and their family and friends will be taking part in the event for the second year running under the team name – ‘One Eyed, One Horned Pancreatic Cancer Beater’.
The Allans are determined to spread awareness and strive to raise funds to enable a breakthrough in early detection.
Ross says often those impacted find out they have the disease when the illness has already taken hold.
Marianne says raising awareness about early diagnosis is key.
The cause is one close to their hearts with Marianne diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in early 2020.
“In my case, I had persistent unexplained back pain for around six months. It wasn’t until a friend suggested it may be cancer-related that I pushed for more tests and we finally had our answer,” Marianne said.
“I would urge anyone with persistent symptoms such as back pain or stomach pain to push for their GP to investigate their concerns.”
Marianne has since undergone three major operations and various other smaller procedures and treatments and is currently having fortnightly chemo to keep the beast at bay.
There is no respite or remission with pancreatic cancer. The disease is all-consuming and relentless with patients enduring a raft of blood tests, appointments and treatments.
In the meantime, Marianne focuses on staying as healthy as she can and not allowing her diagnosis to dampen her zest for life.
Pankind CEO Michelle Stewart says pancreatic cancer is not as rare as many believe.
“This silent killer is notoriously challenging to detect early because its initial symptoms are vague and non-specific. Without an early diagnostic tool, many patients are diagnosed with their disease at an advanced stage, leaving them with limited treatment options,” she said.
In fact, the impact is devastating: Eight out of 10 people (80 per cent) diagnosed will lose their life within a year, and only one in eight (12.5 per cent) survive five years or more. This compares with about nine in 10 (90 per cent) for breast cancer. For thousands of Australians impacted, these statistics are simply unacceptable – and at PanKind they are determined to change them.
Marianne is bucking the trend coming up to five years since her diagnosis and is determined to make a difference.
“Pancreatic cancer claims as many lives each year as breast cancer and prostate cancer but only receives a fraction of the funding,” she said.
“It’s important to me to help change this statistic and support PanKind in their mission to triple survival rates by 2030.”
Ross agrees.
“A friend of mine lost a colleague within just three weeks of diagnosis and it is stories like that which really drive us for better outcomes,” he said.
To help Marianne and Ross raise funds for desperately needed ongoing research to discover a way to early diagnosis, go to pankind.grassrootz.com/put-your-foot-down-melbourne-2024/marianne-allan
To register for the walk, visit pankind.org.au/take-action/upcoming-events/put-your-foot-down-melbourne-2024
All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
