Help the National Pancreas Raise Funds for a Pancreatitis Camp for Children
Children with chronic pancreatitis will experience emergency room visits, days of missed school due to hospitalization and constant pain. Pancreatitis is a rare disease and when diagnosed, most parents and children have never heard of it. "Being diagnosed with pancreatitis at 8-years-old was difficult because I didn't know any other kids who were going through what I was going through," said Lauren Smakosz, 17. "Through years of hospital admissions, testing and surgeries, it became more and more difficult to keep up with school work and get back to playing soccer." (You can read more on Lauren's pancreatitis journey below)
The NPF wants to offer Camp Hope in the Summer of 2020 where children and young people aged 8 - 17
suffering from
acute recurring or chronic pancreatitis, or post TP/IAT, to experience all the joys of camp without limitations. develop a pilot project which will be delivered in the Summer of 2020. Camp Hope will also provide respite and for attendees with a place to meet/bond with other patients. It will be
about all the things children and young people want to and can do: swim, canoe, sing, build lifelong friendships and more.
We can't do it alone. To help us raise funds and meet our goal, please go
CLICK HERE
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Thank you for Coloring It Purple and Lighting It Up for the Pancreas! To see all our pictures, please go here to our
Facebook Group
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THE NATIONAL PANCREAS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES EIGHT ADDITIONAL NPF CENTERS
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The National Pancreas Foundation (NPF), a nonprofit organization that provides hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, announces the designation of eight additional NPF Centers.
The additional Centers complement the already 42 approved Centers for pancreatic cancer. The recently approved Centers for pancreatic cancer are: Medical College of Wisconsin, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, The University Hospital of Brooklyn, Medical Center of Plano, West Michigan Cancer Center, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, and Piedmont Healthcare. There are currently 58 NPF Centers for pancreatitis. Additional NPF Centers for Pancreatitis are: SUNY Downstate Medical Center/The University Hospital of Brooklyn, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, and Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.
NPF Centers are at premier healthcare facilities that focus on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreas disease, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and improved quality of life.
To read the full press release, please
CLICK HERE
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Education and advocacy are part of the National Pancreas Foundation's (NPF) mission. Please see the list of events that are coming up throughout the year. We hope you are able to join us! For a complete list, please see our
Events Page
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PATIENT EDUCATION EVENTS
- Indiana Chapter Education Event | Indianapolis, IN | September 14, 2019
- Illinois Chapter Education Event | Chicago, IL | September 21, 2019
- Iowa Chapter Education Event | Iowa City, IA | October 5, 2019
- Michigan Chapter Education Event | Plymouth, MI | October 19, 2019
- Texas Chapter Education Event | October 12th (Houston) and 26th (San Antonio), 2019
- Georgia Chapter Education Event* | Atlanta, GA | November 10, 2019
*Save the date! More details to follow.
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SUPPORT GROUPS
If you would like to establish a support group in your city, please contact National Chapter Manager, Patrick Salami at psalami@pancreasfoundation.org.
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CHAPTER EVENTS
- Western PA Courage for a Cure Gala | Pittsburgh, PA | September 13, 2019
- Party for a Cure - New Jersey | Paramus, NJ | September 15, 2019
- Attack Pancreatic Disease: Creole Cabana Speaks Up for a Cure! | Baton Rouge, LA | September 30, 2019|
- Marine Corps Marathon & 10K | Washington, DC | October 27, 2019
- Strike-Out Pancreas Disease Indiana Chapter | Noblesville, IN | November 3, 2019
- Strike - Out Pancreas Disease MA Chapter | Shrewsbury, MA | November 3, 2019
- Strike-Out Pancreas Disease Central PA Chapter | Carlisle, PA | November 10, 2019
- Party for a Cure - Boston | Boston, MA | November 13, 2019
- Strike-Out Pancreas Disease Minnesota Chapter | November 16, 2019
- Strike - Out Pancreas Disease MA Chapter | Dedham, MA | November 17, 2019
*Save the date! More details to follow.
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"Never stop fighting and don’t give up hope that things will get better."
Lauren Smakosz was just 8-years-old when she had her first pancreatitis attack. At an early age, Lauren learned to not let pancreatitis stop her from doing what she loved (soccer); learned to become her own advocate; and spoiler alert: Wants to turn her experience into a career by being a pediatric nurse. To read more on Lauren's story, please
CLICK HERE.
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A HOLE IN ONE FOR ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Earl D. Hoover Memorial Golf Tournament for Charities, knows how to give back to the Indianapolis community and have fun doing it. On August 3, 2019, the Tournament held its 7th annual charity golf tournament, and every year they select a charity to benefit. On December 2018, Rhonda Parker, a mutual friend of members of the board, passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 54. In tribute to her and to provide research dollars for pancreatic cancer, the Earl D. Hoover Memorial Golf Tournament for Charities chose the National Pancreas Foundation as their charity of choice.
This years golf tournament not only had the most participants of any year, but also exceeded it's initial goal of raising $20,000. The tournament ended up grossing over $30,000. "Charity efforts like this help us have the resources we need so we can reach out to patients, get to them early in the course of their diagnosis, and help them identify any clinical trials that might be available to them," said Jeffrey J. Easler, MD, Indiana University Health and the Medical Director the NPF Indiana Chapter. "We are very pleased that the Earl D. Hoover Memorial Golf Tournament chose the NPF."
The Charity was founded in Michael Hoover and Loretta (Hoover) Ramsey's fathers name after passing away in 1997 from cancer. He served as a Police Officer in Muncie, Indiana for nearly 25 years and his passion was being a musician and playing his Fender Stratocaster guitar.
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