Eastpoint are glad to be supporting Mark Watson, his daughter and stepmother as they run the London 10k on July 21st in memory of his father. His father passed away in March at just 77 due to Pancreatic Cancer, so Mark is running to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Pancreatic Cancer UK (PCUK) has an active portfolio of research projects across the UK and has invested over £7 million to date on world-class research. They also provide information and support for those who have been diagnosed with or lost someone to Pancreatic Cancer.
What is the Pancreas and what is Pancreatic Cancer?
The Pancreas is part of our digestive system that helps the body break down food so it can be absorbed. It also makes hormones, such as insulin, which controls sugar levels in the blood.
Pancreatic Cancer happens when cells in the pancreas grow out of control, forming a lump/tumour. This can happen in the head, body, or tail of the pancreas. Common symptoms include tummy and back pain, unexplained weight loss and indigestion alongside a loss of appetite, changes to bowel habits, jaundice and others. You can find out more about the signs and symptoms here.
Pancreatic Cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers with only 3-6% of those diagnosed surviving for five years. It’s one of the only cancers that hasn’t seen an improved in survival rates in the last 40 years. Despite being the 12th most common cancer in the world, and the 7th most common cause of cancer death, it still only receives about 2% of overall cancer research funding. which is why it is so important to support charities such as Pancreatic Cancer UK.
We wish our best luck to Mark and family in their run. We are extremely pleased to have been able to donate £100 to his fundraising efforts.
If you too would like to donate, you can visit Mark’s JustGiving page here.
