Posted: Sep 3, 2010 5:47 PM by Laura Wilson
Updated: Sep 4, 2010 9:54 AM
MISSOULA--42,000. That's the number of people who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year alone. It's also the number of miles one man and his crew are traveling to help raise awareness about the deadly disease.
The Road2ACure tour is led by seven-year pancreatic cancer survivor Chris Calaprice, who continues to receive chemotherapy while on the road. Calaprice and his crew are riding through all 50 states to raise money for pancreatic cancer research and spread the message of hope to cancer survivors.
The crew was in Missoula on Friday for some auto tune-ups and repairs. All of their services were provided free of charge by Chris Gerber and his crew at Transolution Auto Care in Missoula.
Calaprice says one thing they hope to accomplish during the nine month trek is to bring more of a focus onto other cancers that receive less annual funding.
"We don't want to take money away from the cancers that are doing well financially and making great progress, but these other cancers need to be addressed," said Calaprice. "The #4 cancer killer in American can't receive 2% of the federal funds for research."
Road2ACure members believe their efforts thus far are helping to change the lives of pancreatic cancer patients around the country.
"There's a reason to go to a center of excellence," Calaprice said. "There's a reason to get a second, third, and fourth opinion and to really fight this disease."
So far, the crew has raised $40,000 through fundraising, rallies, donations, etc. The next two stops on their tour are Canada and Alaska.
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