Illuminating Jail Holds Personal Meaning For Sheriff, Cancer Survivor

RIVERHEAD, NY— Illuminating the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead holds deep personal meaning for Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, a pancreatic cancer survivor.

In recognition of World Pancreatic Cancer Day, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility in Riverhead will be illuminated in purple on Thursday, Nov. 21, in partnership with the Lustgarten Foundation, a non-profit that funds research and support for the fight against pancreatic cancer.

The initiative holds a personal significance for Toulon, a three-time cancer survivor, including a survivor of pancreatic cancer for more than 20 years, he said.

Toulon added that he has made it his mission to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer throughout November, which is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and to support those currently battling the disease.

"As a survivor of pancreatic cancer, I understand the fear and uncertainty that come with this diagnosis," said Toulon. "To everyone fighting this disease, know that you are not alone —there is hope, and there are resources available to help you and your family."

Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with a 13 percent five-year survival rate for all stages, combined, a 44 percent five -year survival rate for localized cancer and a 16 percent five-year survival rate for regional pancreatic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

By lighting the facility purple, the Sheriff’s Office aims "to honor those who have lost their lives to this aggressive disease, celebrate survivors, and raise awareness of the importance of early detection, research, and funding," he said.

For more information about the Lustgarten Foundation, click here.