Purple lights for pancreatic cancer

ADELAIDE Oval, Parliament House and Kadina Town Hall are among 220 buildings around Australia that have been lit up in purple to mark World Pancreatic Cancer month.

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in Australia with someone diagnosed every two hours.

Pankind chief executive Michelle Stewart said cases had doubled in the past 20 years, with 78 Australians losing their lives to the disease each week. 

“This month, we’re putting a spotlight on pancreatic cancer — lighting cities purple, starting conversations about symptoms, and raising awareness about the importance of early detection,” she said. 

“We’re asking Australians to join the fight and be part of a community working towards a world without this devastating disease — a world where we don’t lose 11 loved ones every day.” 

Ms Stewart urged people to host a fundraising event and help raise vital funds for medical research. 

“Pancreatic cancer is the toughest common cancer, and for too long, progress has lagged behind,” she said.

“Survival rates have barely improved in decades, leaving people diagnosed feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.”

Ms Stewart announced Pankind would invest $2.5 million in its 2025 research program to help reach its goal of tripling survival rates by 2030.

It was Pankind’s largest ever funding commitment and would include five Early Detection Innovation grants of $100,000 each, five New Treatment Innovation grants of $100,000, and five New Treatment Accelerator grants of $300,000.

For more information, visit www.pankind.org.au.