Kathleen DelGiorno MD, PhD | Vanderbilt University

Kathleen DelGiorno, PhD, MD

Assistant Professor

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology

Vanderbilt University

Dr. Kathy DelGiorno is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University. She is an Air Force veteran and a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy where she studied Biology. She has a Master’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Florida and received her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Stony Brook University. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, conducting pancreatic cancer research. She has over 14 years of experience in this field and her program at Vanderbilt combines various RNA-sequencing approaches with ultrastructural microscopy and genetically engineered mouse models to understand pancreatic tumor formation and progression. In collaboration with Dr. Nidhi Jyotsana, a Bioengineer and Research Assistant Professor in her laboratory, she is studying the use of lipid nanoparticle encased RNA therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Nearly all cases of pancreatic cancer are caused by mutation of the KRAS gene. KRAS mutations alter many cellular functions, including metabolism. Recently, blocking uptake of cystine by metabolite transporter SLC7A11 has been shown to efficiently kill pancreatic cancer cells. With the help of the Sky Foundation, Dr. DelGiorno, an expert in pancreatic tumorigenesis, and Dr. Nidhi Jyotsana, a Bioengineer and cancer biologist, are combining RNA targeting strategies and biocompatible lipid nanoparticles to directly target KRAS and SLC7A11 gene expression. While there has been hesitancy employing RNA-based therapies in the past, they have now been shown to be safe and effective in the clinic. Over the last year, lipid nanoparticle-RNA technology has come of age, with the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, based on this technology, being administered to >150 million Americans. Our goal is to develop safe, effective LNP-RNA strategies for pancreatic cancer patients.

Ben Z. Stanger, M.D. Ph.D.
Hanna Wise Professor of Cancer Research

Professor of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology
Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Director, Penn Pancreatic Cancer Research Center (https://www.med.upenn.edu/pcrc/)

512 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania

After receiving his S.B. degree from MIT and a combined MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Stanger completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, a clinical fellowship in Gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a research fellowship in Molecular Biology at Harvard. In 2006, he joined the Penn faculty as a member of the Gastroenterology Division and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.

Dr. Stanger’s laboratory investigates multiple aspects of pancreatic cancer biology, including metastasis, tumor immunology, metabolism, and therapy resistance. His research integrates mouse models and human data to identify new vulnerabilities that can be assessed clinically. He is currently the Hanna Wise Professor in Cancer Research at the University of Pennsylvania, where he serves as Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Center (PCRC).

Matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program that essentially double an employee’s initial donation to an eligible nonprofit organization.

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Contact Person for Matching Gifts at Sky Foundation:

Annie Dalton, ADalton@SkyFoundationInc.org, 248-385-5143

The Best Part? You can make TWO donations for the price of ONE.

Make sure you write down the following since you will need it when submitting your donation to your employer:

Tax ID: 26-2720583
Sky Foundation’s Address: 33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 275 | Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Frequently Asked Questions

What are employee matching gift programs?

Employee matching gift programs are corporate giving programs in which the company matches donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations.

It’s an easy way to double your contribution to us!

What are volunteer grant programs?

Volunteer grant programs are corporate giving programs in which companies provide monetary donations to organizations where employees volunteer regularly.

If you volunteer with us, it’s an easy way to provide us with additional financial support!

How do I request a matching gift or volunteer grant?

Requesting a matching gift or volunteer grant is normally a five minute process which must be initiated by the donor / volunteer. You can do this by filling out and submitting a paper match form provided by your employer or through an electronic submission process.

Please search our database for company specific information.

How is this information obtained?

We partner with a company called Double the Donation. If you see anything that should be changed, please email Double the Donation’s team at data@doublethedonation.com

What if I still have questions?

For questions regarding your company’s programs, please contact your employer’s HR or community giving department. Much of the necessary information is also available on your company intranet.

For questions regarding submitting a matching gift or volunteer grant request to us, please contact us using the information provided on this page.

Print Out’s You Can Use For Your Stroll

Registration Packet

Signage for pictures

Don’t forget! Post to the live feed today so that we can see everyone’s incredible walks!

Congratulations for signing up to be a team leader for our 2021 Autumn Stroll!

Here are a few brief videos to help you along the process so you can get your page up and share with all of your supporters.

To view our sponsorship opportunities, please click HERE.

2021 Grant Application & Guidelines

SAVE THE DATE FOR SKY’S AUTUMN STROLL!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

We’re getting ready to announce plans for this year’s Autumn Stroll, combining the best of last year’s virtual event and previous years of walking together.

It will be a hybrid event, with live and virtual ways attendees can participate safely as an individual or team — to walk, jog, run, bike, swim, or just get together with friends and family — at the location of your choosing! All in support of Sky Foundation and finding an answer to pancreatic cancer.

Our Autumn Stroll website will be better than ever and easier to use. This site will launch in June 2021 but feel free to start gathering your teams and building your stroll plan until the site is live!

For more information, or if you would like to be a TEAM LEADER, contact Annie at ADalton@SkyFoundationInc.org.

Check back here for updates, follow us on Facebook or watch your email.

To join our email list, contact Annie.

2021 Women’s Event Draft Release 3-2 Women’s Event Speaker Release 3-22

Marriott Chief Executive Arne Sorenson, who grew the company into the world’s largest hotel chain and steered it through a global pandemic that has been catastrophic in the travel industry in the past year, has died, the hotel giant said Tuesday. He was 62.

Sorenson stepped away from his management role earlier this month to pursue a more aggressive cancer treatment. He was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019.

J.W. Marriott Jr., the company’s executive chairman, said Sorenson loved every aspect of the hotel business and relished traveling and meeting employees around the world.

“Arne was an exceptional executive – but more than that – he was an exceptional human being,” said Marriott said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

Sorenson was the first Marriott CEO whose name was not Marriott, and only the third to lead the company in its 93-year history.

Sorenson joined the Bethesda, Maryland, company in 1996, leaving behind a partnership in a Washington law firm where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. He rose to president and chief operating officer before he was named CEO in 2012.

To read the full article, please visit the following link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arne-sorenson-dies-age-62-pancreatic-cancer-marriot-ceo/

Last June, Henry Ford Health System signed a letter of intent to partner with Michigan State University, marking a first of its kind partnership for the region between a fully integrated academic health system and major state university. We are excited to share with you that we have now finalized a 30-year partnership agreement.

We envision a bold transformation of healthcare in Michigan by fostering innovative, groundbreaking research, providing best-in-class, comprehensive cancer care, developing exceptional training and increasing diversity among the next generation of health care professionals, and actively addressing the needs of traditionally underserved communities.

Our partnership has both short and long-term goals, which include:

Creating a prominently co-branded Health Science Center that aligns basic and translational research fueling innovation and discovery through an academically and clinically integrated network of scientists, academicians, and health care practitioners in a new, jointly developed research facility.

Achieving a National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer center designation by addressing comprehensive cancer care in Michigan and beyond through advanced research and clinical capabilities with a focus on curing cancer, reducing health disparities among racial and ethnic populations in cancer outcomes, and improving the lives of cancer patients and their families.

Training the next generation of physicians, nurses, and health care practitioners to best provide quality, compassionate care for patients. Henry Ford’s and MSU’s distinguished faculty will develop innovative learning models in a new education facility co-located on our Henry Ford Hospital Campus in Detroit.

Embedding principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with mechanisms to realize these principles, in our research, educational and clinical endeavors.

Dr. Steven Kalkanis, our System Chief Academic Officer and Henry Ford Medical Group CEO, will be the inaugural President of the Health Sciences Enterprise and Dr. Norm Beauchamp, Executive Vice President of Health Sciences for MSU, will chair the board selected from leaders of both institutions. For more details, please visit henryford.com/msuhealthsciences.

Click here to read more about Henry Ford’s new partnerships.

The Henry Ford Cancer Institute invites you to join us for a livestream event to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion in Detroit.

For more information, visit Henry Ford Health System‘s website.

According to American Cancer Society, on average 166 cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed daily in 2021.

60,430 people are predicted to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in this country this year. The report also showed that 48,220 Americans are expected to die from the disease this year. Diagnoses and deaths are up 5% and 2.5% from last year, respectively.

Pancreatic cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., and the five-year survival rate stayed at 10%. However, the five-year survival rate is now 10% according to both the SEER-18 and SEER-9 databases (last year, it was 10% per SEER-9 but still 9% via SEER-18).

This week we celebrate Alex Trebek as his final Jeopardy! episodes air through Friday.

Trebek died Nov. 8 from…

Posted by Sky Foundation, Inc. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Shannon is a Managing Director in EY’s Assurance practice where she oversees external IT audits and Service Organization Control Reporting attestations. She also serves as Program Co-Director for EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® program in East Central.

In 2019, Shannon’s husband, Mike, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed shortly thereafter. Following an introduction to Sheila, Sky’s founder, she connected with the organization’s mission and found invaluable support within its community. That same year, she joined Sky’s Board and was appointed Governing President in June 2021.

Leigh is Assistant Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Oakland University, where she also teaches and conducts research in Human Resources and Higher Education Administration. She previously served in human resource positions in higher education and the automotive industry.

Leigh’s grandfather passed from pancreatic cancer with a diabetic precursor in 1995, and her father passed away from the same in 2009. She approached Sky Foundation in order to support the early detection of cancer and to learn more about the warning signs to help the next generations. Leigh joined the Board in June 2021.

Kristen is a Physician Assistant at Beaumont Hospital for the past 10 years in surgery and also works privately for the surgeons at Renaissance Plastic Surgery in Troy. She lives in Birmingham with her husband, Gordon and family. She enjoys spending time with family and traveling in her spare time.

Like most people, she has had several people close suffer with Pancreatic Cancer and other cancers as well. Her first husband passed away from cancer when her first born was only 8 months old. That experience was what prompted her to change careers, mid life, and get into medicine. She wanted to make a difference. She also had the opportunity to meet Sheila on a few occasions and was inspired. She would like to continue to make a difference in people’s health, more specifically, with Pancreatic Cancer. Kristen joined Sky’s governing board in 2023.

Marcia Schroeder is a retired IT professional who spent her career at EDS and Hewlett-Packard designing and delivering training solutions. After losing her late husband, Gary Harrington, to pancreatic cancer, she found strength and purpose through Sky Foundation’s mission. Marcia joined the governing board in 2023 and now serves as treasurer, passionately advocating for greater awareness, research, and support for those impacted by pancreatic cancer.

Edna received her PhD at Wayne State University. Retired from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2011 as Interim Director in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Edna is a 16 year pancreatic cancer survivor.

Dr. Philip of Karmanos Cancer Institute and Sky’s Scientific Advisory Committee tells us what to lookout for when screening for Pancreatic Cancer.

Ed has a Biology degree in Microbiology, a Pharmacist Degree and License from Wayne State University. He was a previous owner of several retail pharmacies and Pharmacies in medical buildings in metro Detroit. Ed served on the Board of Directors at Twin Beach Country Club and recently stepped down from Board of Directors on the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.

2020 CARES Act – Charitable Donations Deduction

Residents of the United States are frequently ranked as among the most generous in the world (Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index, October 2019). Charitable contributions flowing from these taxpayers enable Sky Foundation to fulfill its mission.

To stimulate charitable giving during this pandemic, Congress included a provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide some relief for charitable organizations. The CARES Act permits eligible individuals who do not itemize deductions to deduct $300 of qualified charitable contributions as an “above-the-line” deduction, i.e., as an adjustment in determining adjusted gross income (AGI), for tax years beginning in 2020.

The amount may be relatively small, but in the throes of a health care crisis, every bit can make a difference — in this case, for both you the donor and Sky Foundation. Please consider giving before the end of the year to take advantage of this new deduction.

Charitable Donations of Appreciated Stock

Consider donating appreciated stock from your investment portfolio instead of cash. Your tax benefits from the donation can be increased and Sky Foundation will be just as happy to receive your stock.

The tax benefit to the donor is in the form of a larger deduction for the donation of the stock, using the fair market value of the stock on the date of the donation WITHOUT having to pay taxes on the value of the appreciation (capital gain). In other words, the donor does not have to recognize the gain on the donated stock as long as the donation is made out of the donor’s broker account and received directly into the foundation’s account (not converted to cash first). The stock must be held for more than a year to qualify for this preferential tax treatment.

Sky Foundation receives the fair market value of the stock which can be converted to cash and used to fund its programs and achieve its mission.

The information contained in this newsletter article is for general informational purposes. Consult your tax advisor for tax advice specific to your tax situation.

Jean M. Stenger, CPA is currently a Senior Manager at the CPA firm of Derderian, Kann, Seyferth & Salucci, P.C.

Henry Ford Health System announced a $16 million gift to its Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center (HFPCC), which was launched in 2018 by an initial $20 million gift from the same donor, who wishes to remain anonymous. The gift will bolster the HFPCC’s clinical and translational research endeavors in the fight against this devastating disease.

The Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion is scheduled to open in January 2021. © 2020 Henry Ford Health System

“We are tremendously thankful for this combined $36 million gift, which not only launched the Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center in 2018, but will further empower our world class clinicians and researchers to continue their pursuit of scientific discoveries that will improve the lives of many affected by this disease,” said Wright Lassiter, III, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System.

“We are excited to bring together the world’s most innovative minds to accelerate the pace of discovery and understanding,” said David Kwon, M.D., FACS, Clinical Director of the HFPCC. “With such generous funding, we are able to think outside the traditional research paradigms to create a foundational and innovative infrastructure of expert teams that would otherwise not be feasible. This allows us to attract premier scientists and establish collaborations with the world’s best researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders. The goal is to build a center that will continue to foster ground-breaking research in the fight against pancreatic cancer.”

The work of the clinicians, researchers and staff of the HFPCC would not be possible without the generous support of those in the community who want to make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

To learn more about the HFPCC, visit henryford.com/PancreaticCancer.

To read the full article, visit prnewswire.com

SOURCE Henry Ford Health System

Click on the picture to watch the WXYZ Segment on Sky Foundation’s 12th Annual Celebration, 1st time Virtual!

Sky Foundation lost a dear friend and a founding member last weekend with the passing of Judy McClelland. Judy was fully committed to our mission and for 12 years we were graced with her incredible spirit and delightful personality at every event — always in purple attire!

In Spring of 2020, we asked Judy to share some words about Sky and her friendship with Sheila:

“When I first met Sheila (playing bridge, of course) many decades ago, I just knew we would be great friends!

A couple of years later Sheila was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and while recovering from surgery, she decided that she had to do something positive.

And before I knew it, I was sitting at a table in a board room with a group of Sheila‘s friends laying the groundwork for what would become known as the first Board of Sky Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness and funding research for an early detection of new or recurrent tumors of the pancreas.

Many years have passed and Sheila and I are still the best of friends, meeting for dinner as often as we can and talking for many hours on the telephone keeping me up to date on Sky Foundation, trying to keep track of the goings-on of our numerous children and family members and our friends. Most of all, we laugh a lot and relish our awesome memories and events that we have shared over the years and that we will share for years to come.

Love you,

Judy”

She brought a spirit and flair to all she touched; she will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Judy’s family and friends.

If you’d like to donate in memory of Judy, please click here.

Alex Trebek Loses his Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer on November 8, 2020

Sky Foundation was deeply saddened by the passing of Alex Trebek. By openly sharing his diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer he brought awareness to millions of people.

Pancreatic cancer is now the third-deadliest cancer and we can only affect the trajectory of this terrible disease through education, awareness, and research.

In the category of most-loved game show hosts the world will answer, “Who is Alex Trebek?” He will be missed by all those who adored him and watched him every evening on “Jeopardy!” Rest in peace, Alex.

Alex Trebek of ‘Jeopardy!’ dies at 80 after pancreatic cancer battle

Bill Keveney

USA TODAY

Game show legend Alex Trebek, the beloved “Jeopardy!” host who showed dignity and perseverance in dealing with a Stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March 2019, died Sunday. He was 80.

” ‘Jeopardy!’ is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex,” according to a statement from “Jeopardy!”

Trebek was synonymous with longtime top-rated “Jeopardy!,” the brainiest of TV quiz shows, which he hosted since its syndicated revival premiered in 1984 (Art Fleming hosted an earlier NBC version from 1964 to 1975.). Will Ferrell’s “Saturday Night Live” impersonation both underlined and burnished Trebek’s exalted cultural status.

The Sudbury, Ontario-born host, who gained U.S. citizenship in 1998, enjoyed a substantial game show career before taking on “Jeopardy!,” hosting shows such as “The Wizard of Odds,” “Double Dare,” “High Rollers,” “Battlestars,” “Classic Concentration” and “To Tell the Truth.”

Read the full article at: https://www.usatoday.com/…/jeopardy-host…/1885204001/

Beautiful, brilliant, brave and bold. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a champion for justice that helped pave the way for gender quality and so much more. Throughout her time as Supreme Court Justice, her strength did not waver, as she fought her own 20 year battle of various cancers, ultimately losing the fight to pancreatic cancer.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the demure firebrand who in her 80s became a legal, cultural and feminist icon, died Friday. The Supreme Court announced her death, saying the cause was complications from metastatic cancer of the pancreas.

The court, in a statement, said Ginsburg died at her home in Washington, D.C., surrounded by family. She was 87.

“Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature,” Chief Justice John Roberts said. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”

Architect of the legal fight for women’s rights in the 1970s, Ginsburg subsequently served 27 years on the nation’s highest court, becoming its most prominent member. Her death will inevitably set in motion what promises to be a nasty and tumultuous political battle over who will succeed her, and it thrusts the Supreme Court vacancy into the spotlight of the presidential campaign.

To read the full article, visit the NPR website.

Contact:

Amy Hennes

hennesamy@gmail.com

(248) 9610644

Join Sky Foundation Nov. 8 for Annual Celebration during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

This year’s free Virtual event includes research updates, auctions, and local celebrities

For Immediate Release – Oct. 26, 2020 – Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – Sky Foundation is taking it’s Annual Celebration online this year for a virtual, fast-paced event in support of pancreatic cancer education and research. This year’s event — now in its 12^th year – will livestream Sunday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.

“Our team works year-round to help people recognize the hidden signs of pancreatic cancer,” says Kasselman, a 13-year pancreatic cancer survivor and founder of Sky Foundation. “Hosting our annual celebration in November — during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month — helps us elevate the importance of early detection and join together as a community to combat this deadly cancer that touches so many lives.

WJR Newsradio 760’s Guy Gordon will emcee the event that includes a live auction with auctioneer Christopher Aslanian, a research update by Sky’s Scientific Advisory Committee, and a drawing for a $1000 Gift Card to the Somerset Collection for all who register. An online (silent) auction is also included that begins Nov. 4 and runs through the start of the event.

Sky Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness and education of this third-deadliest cancer and fund medical research and treatment. Sky works with researchers in Michigan and around the country to find an early detection method to increase survival rates.

To register and get tickets, sponsor, or for more information on the auction and event, visit the event page.

For more information on Sky Foundation, visit www.skyfoundationinc.org.

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Sky Foundation Annual October Walk Raises Record $40,000 for University of Michigan Pancreatic Cancer Research Team

Contact:
Amy Hennes
hennesamy@gmail.com
(248) 961-0644

More than 550 participated across the country.

For Immediate Release – Oct. 14, 2020 – Birmingham, Mich. — Sky Foundation’s annual Autumn Stroll Oct. 4, raised more than $40,000 for the University of Michigan Pancreatic Cancer Research Teams.

Participants walked, ran, swam and / or gathered with friends to honor loved ones affected by the third deadliest cancer, and help others know the symptoms.

Sky Foundation was established by Sheila “Sky” Kasselman in 2008 following diagnosis and treatment for pancreatic cancer. The Foundation’s goal is to find an early detection method to increase survival rates. It works with researchers in Michigan and around the country to put an end to this disease.

“Our 25 team leaders and volunteers were key to our success – our boots on the ground,” said Edna Gray, survivor, and co-chair of the event with Kasselman. “This cancer touches too many lives but together we know we can make a difference.”

Sky Foundation’s team will hold their 12^th Annual Celebration on Nov. 8 which will include a research update, silent and live auctions, and a chance to win a $1000 gift card to the Somerset Collection. Detroit’s own Guy Gordon of WJR Newsradio 760 will serve as the event’s emcee.

“While we have different levels of participation, the only cost to log into the event and enter the gift card drawing is the opportunity to learn more about this cancer,” said Kasselman. “If we help one person discover the hidden signs of pancreatic cancer early, then events like the walk and the annual celebration are a success.”

Photos and personal “Why I Walk” stories from the Autumn Stroll can be found on Sky Foundation’s Instragram page. Information on the Nov. 8 event can be found at www.SkyVirtual.givesmart.com or visit their website at www.SkyFoundationInc.org.

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Sponsor The 2020 Annual Celebration

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of John Lewis. John was a passionate, inspiring and courageous man that we will remember and admire for years to come.

Read more about his accomplishments and 7 month battle with pancreatic cancer here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-lewis-dead-civil-rights-icon-age-80-pancreatic-cancer/

The stories Keith Famie comes across while making films are both heartbreaking and inspirational.

For two years, Famie and his crew worked on the film “Those on the Front Lines of Cancer.”

The film will debut on PBS stations nationally Sunday, July 19, and will be shown at 10 p.m. on New Mexico PBS.

The documentary features heartfelt stories and several well-known medical professionals.

Working in the trenches with these professionals, Famie explores the latest medical advances as well as body, mind, and spirit approaches and how lifestyle changes and disciplines can affect what may otherwise be a genetic roll of the dice.

“It’s always fascinating for me when I work on these films,” Famie says. “When I film with different medical professionals, one part of the country hasn’t heard of an idea. It’s usually bridged by the patients advocating for themselves and figuring out the best possible treatment. The patients have to push the envelope on this.”

Director Keith Famie

Famie is grateful to the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation, the presenting sponsor for the national launch of the film on PBS.

” ‘Cancer’ – this word evokes fear into anyone who hears a doctor use it in the context of a checkup. I truly wanted to explore where we are with treatments and research as well as better understand how lifestyle can impact our long-term health to possibly avoid a cancer diagnosis,” he says. “Most importantly, I wanted to give a voice to those on a cancer journey – enabling these unsung heroes of the film to teach us about strength, courage, faith, and the drive to overcome this devastating disease.”

Michigan media personality JoAnne Purtan is the host of the two-hour documentary.

“Cancer affects all of us in one way or another. I watched both my mom and mother-in-law battle ovarian cancer for years, and currently have friends facing their own cancer journey,” Purtan says. “This film provides hope … hope for new treatments on the horizon and hope for alleviating the financial toxicity that often accompanies a diagnosis. What an honor it is to work with Keith Famie and to be a part of such an important project.”

Famie is looking forward to the documentary getting a national rollout because it’s an issue that people need to talk about.

“These films are a real journey of love,” he says. “They really are done with the sense that people can react. Getting messages of hope really fuels my drive. Boy, if I can dig deep and serve up something that makes a difference, I’m going to try each time.”

This article was written by: ADRIAN GOMEZ / JOURNAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The original article can be found at the Albuquerque Journal at https://www.abqjournal.com/1476263/making-a-difference-2.html .