Las Vegas Raises Close To $100,000 For PanCANPurpleStride

Gianni Giancola via BMG Las Vegas

Saturday, April 29, 2023, was a beautiful day to to come together as a community to fight a deadly disease for PanCANPurpleStride 2023. No matter the circumstance, Vegas was going to raise awareness about Pancreatic cancer.

The inaugural PanCANPurpleStride, sponsored by longtime premium sponsor, Optum Care Cancer Center, event went off without a hitch at its new location, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, previously held at the upscale outdoor shopping mall, TownSquare Las Vegas.

As many Vegas locals know, parking at UNLV could be a nightmare but for this event it wasn't! The leading hospitality college opened four parking areas including Lot D, Lot E, Lot V and Lot B which made it easy for participants to find the central location.

The event village inside the Valerie Pida Plaza was home for all things PurpleStride related: Check-in, food and beverage, interactive activities, main stage and more! The event started bright and early at 7:00 a.m. allowing enough time for a fun warm up and stage announcements.

This is the second year that The Mike & Carla Morning Show hosted the PanCANPurpleStride Las Vegas. Mike and Carla brought personality, understanding and laughter which was needed for many of us.

Dr. Gollard, from Optum Care Cancer Center, spoke on the main stage on the importance of research at the Pancreatic Action Network which helps many people nationwide. Dr. Gollard quoted, "According to the American Cancer Society, 64,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2023" and how this disease affects people of all ages and not just the elderly.

The walk/run began at 830 a.m. and rounded the "dark side" of UNLV, passing the "Flashlight" up past the science buildings looping around the sports area and back through science area to the finish line. The route was exceptionally beautiful as it featured UNLV's outdoor campus landscape, historic building architecture and a slight breeze.

As a city, we should be very proud as we raised 61% to goal which was $94,909 of $155,000. We will keep striving as a community to reach our goal and to eradicate this deadly disease.