Rye Husband and Daughter Continue Mission to Cure Pancreatic Cancer

Rye, N.Y. – When Gigi Shanes-Hernandez was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2008, her family was devastated to learn the statistics of this disease. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading causeof cancer death in the United States—and has the highest mortality rate of all the major cancers.

More than 44,000 individuals will be diagnosed and nearly as many will die from it this year alone.

Gigi lost her courageous eleven-month battle with pancreatic cancer on April 9, 2009 and her husband,Stephen, and daughter, Tara, are on a mission to fight the disease that changed their lives forever. “The outpouring of support from the community toward this effort gives us great hope that together we canbeat this terrible disease,” reflects Stephen.

The 4th Annual Westchester Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk is on Sunday, April 21, 2013. Registration opens at 8 AM and the walk begins at 9:30 at Rye Town Park and Playland Park. The event was originated by Steve and Tara to honor Gigi and all those who have been affected by pancreatic cancer aswell as to raise awareness and money to fund research efforts.

Gigi, a lifelong Rye resident, loved taking walks along scenic Long Island Sound with family and friends. One thousand people participated in lastyear’s “Westchester Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk” and they raised nearly $300,000 for pancreatic cancer research.

A lack of early detection methods, vague symptoms, limited treatment options, and unique researchchallenges are all reasons why the disease kills nearly all who are diagnosed. According to the National Cancer Institute, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 5 percent.

Despite these numbers, pancreatic cancer receives the least amount of federal research dollars among allleading cancers. This is why Steve and Tara are driven to creating awareness, advocacy, and fundraising to advance research. All the money raised will be donated to The Lustgarten Foundation, the country’slargest private supporter of pancreatic cancer research, where 100% of every donation goes directly toresearch.

Ann Walsh, Director of Events, The Lustgarten Foundation, said “It is because of friends like Steve Hernandez and Tara Shanes-Hernandez, and all of the individuals and organizations who participate atthese kinds of community events, that The Lustgarten Foundation has been able provide $65 million forleading research, which is making significant strides in the fight against pancreatic cancer.”

For more information and to register for the event online, visit www.lustgarten.org. You can also contactThe Lustgarten Foundation directly by calling 866.789.1000.

About The Lustgarten Foundation

The Lustgarten Foundation was founded in 1998 through the efforts of Marc Lustgarten, formerChairman of Madison Square Gardens, who died of pancreatic cancer in 1999, and Charles F. Dolan,Chairman of Cablevision Systems Corp. Since its founding, The Lustgarten Foundation has awardedgrants totaling more than $65 million in support of pancreatic cancer research. For more informationregarding the Foundation visit www.lustgarten.org.