This past Saturday, April 26, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) held its biggest fundraising event of the year, PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer. Days of our Lives cast members created their own team to honor the legacy of the late Drake Hogestyn.
PanCAN PurpleStride
PanCAN PurpleStride took place nationwide in nearly 60 cities as survivors, supporters, celebrities, and special guests walked in solidarity to raise awareness and much-needed funds for pancreatic cancer, one of the world’s deadliest forms of cancer. It is the number one way PanCAN raises funds to fuel its mission, and the dollars raised change the lives of people facing pancreatic cancer and advance progress against the disease. Nearly 63,000 people attended across the country, raising nearly $16.5 million towards fighting the disease.
At PurpleStride Los Angeles, Daytime TV stars Martha Madison from DAYS and many of the Days’ cast members formed their own PurpleStride team, “Hogey’s Home Runners” in honor of TV’s greatest hero—and their on-screen dad—Drake Hogestyn, who portrayed John Black. After losing Drake to pancreatic cancer, they came together at PurpleStride Los Angeles to raise funds and awareness in his memory.
Those who walked with Hogey’s Home Runners included Brandon Beemer (Shawn), Raven Bowens (Chanel), Heather Boyd (Jan), Rachel Boyd (Sophia), Bryan Datillo (Rafe), Kennedy Garcia (Felicity), Alice Halsey (Rachel), Tina Huang (Melinda), Cherie Jimenez (Gabi), Abigail Klein (Stephanie), Victoria Konefal (Ciara), Dan Feuerriegel (EJ), John Paul Lavoisier (Philip), Stephen Nichols (Steve), Shi Ne Nielson (Amy), and Ashley Puzemis (Holly).
Martha Madison (Belle) shared a video of the event, which took place in the pouring rain in Los Angeles. “It poured down rain in LA yesterday, and so 3000 people gathered and cheered and walked and made a difference anyway! Teleprompters-be-damned, we shared Drake’s story, and with soaking wet socks and hair, we danced and played in the rain. #hogeyshomerunners raised over $58,000.00 for @pancan, and lifelong memories were made.
“Throughout my life, I’ve found that meeting pain with action is incredibly healing,” Madison wrote. “Yesterday was a perfect representation of that, and the post-storm rainbows that appeared afterward reaffirmed my belief that our dearly departed are never far away. (And #ThatsAFact 😉)
“Thank you to everyone who showed up and/or supported us from afar,” she continued. “You are the absolute best! 🙏🏼🥰🥳 #Days.”
Pancreatic cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is on track to become the second leading cause. It is the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other illnesses or conditions, most patients are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. There is no standard screening strategy for pancreatic cancer and few treatment options, highlighting the urgent need for increased research, funding, and awareness to improve patient outcomes.
“You are supporting PanCAN’s critical work – giving patients and caregivers the resources and knowledge they need to navigate this disease through PanCAN Patient Services; funding research to find a way to detect this disease earlier and find better treatments for patients; and advocating for more federal funding for this disease because we know science follows money,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO, PanCAN at PurpleStride Los Angeles’ opening ceremony. “Events like PurpleStride are more important than ever right now because of recent cuts to federal funding for pancreatic cancer research. We desperately need both public and private funding for this disease to ensure scientists have the resources they need to drive progress and improve patient outcomes, so thank you again for being here today and taking action.”
From coast to coast and across the television spectrum, notable figures joined the fight. Joan Vassos was a featured speaker at PurpleStride Washington D.C., while actors from Star Trek, including Kitty Swink, John Billingsley, and TV writer-producer Juan Carlos Coto, who lost his brother, “Star Trek Enterprise” Executive Producer Manny Coto, to the disease, along with Lisa Niemi Swayze and DAYS’ Martha Madison and many of the cast of the show participated in PurpleStride Los Angeles.
“PanCAN provides critical resources, research, and support—and in doing so, gives the one thing John clung to most: hope,” said Joan Vassos (who recently revealed her dream Housewives taglines). “I walk in honor of John, alongside family and friends as Team ‘It’s Just a Sprain,’ and I advocate so that no other family has to go through this terrible journey alone.”
Notable celebrities showed up to walk and support PanCAN’s mission in several cities across the country:
At PurpleStride Washington D.C, Reality star and advocate, Joan Vassos led her team “It’s Just A Sprain” in honor of her late husband, John, who passed away from the disease in 2021.
