Highlighting Pancreatic Cancer in the African American Community

Sky Foundation has an overarching goal of raising public awareness for pancreatic cancer through educational events and funding scientific research. Pancreatic cancer is a silent cancer, yet it is the third leading cause of all cancer-related deaths in the United States. Symptoms can occur when the cancer has spread to other organs, resulting in a poor prognosis and outcome. Currently, there is a survival rate of 11% after diagnosis and only one-fifth of Americans diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive for a full year.

Black History Month serves as an extra opportunity to further highlight the need for educational awareness of pancreatic cancer and the incidence within the African American population. I am an African American female, a 14.5-year pancreatic cancer survivor, and a self-proclaimed miracle with multiple blessings. As a Board member of Sky Foundation, I have a broader avenue & opportunity to assist with education for awareness of this terrible disease. I also fundraise for research and offer hope to pancreatic patients with my personal testimony of survival.

Adding to the insidious nature of this cancer, racial/ethnic disparities are well documented that greatly impact the diagnosis, specialist consultation, treatment, and survival outcome of African Americans. This population has the highest incidence of pancreatic cancer than any other racial group. After diagnosis, they are less likely to undergo evaluation by a surgeon or receive surgery than any other racial group in the U.S. However, even when diagnosed the cancer is often at an advanced stage and therefore, inoperable.

As a survivor, sharing my experience includes the need for a second opinion from a highly skilled physician in the specialty of pancreatic cancer, genetic and biomarker testing. It is also highly encouraged to participate in a clinical trial if possible and seeking help with self-advocacy and support.

Sky Foundation’s website provides more information on all areas of this subject. Please visit the website to learn about the innovative research that Sky funds from coast to coast: www.SkyFoundationInc.org.

Article written by Edna Jackson-Gray

Sheila Kasselman, Sky’s founder, discovered her diabetes, at age 66, two months before she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sudden Onset of Diabetes is something we absolutely need to talk about. Read this great article in the New York Times to educate yourself on the subject.

“Pancreatic cancer is a nasty, stubborn killer that has thus far defied medicine’s best efforts at early diagnosis and curative treatment.

Although pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare cancer, it is so deadly it is now on track to become the country’s second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2040. Currently it accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers and 7 percent of cancer deaths. Overall, only one person in 10 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survives five years. A cure is almost always a lucky accident, when the cancer is detected at an early, symptom-free stage during an unrelated abdominal scan or surgery and the tumor can be surgically removed.”

The article goes on to talk about a project that Sky Foundation has funded ($100,000) to the beginning of PanCAN’s project mentioned in this article:

“Another effort begun last summer by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, called the Early Detection Initiative for Pancreatic Cancer, will enroll more than 12,000 participants with elevated blood sugar levels and new-onset diabetes. Half will have periodic blood tests and undergo abdominal imaging based on their age, body weight and blood glucose levels to look for evidence of early pancreatic cancer, while the others will serve as controls.

The goal of such studies is to identify biological markers, like certain genes or proteins excreted by the tumor, that could be used in screening tests to indicate the presence of cancer when it could still potentially benefit from surgery. Alas, the results are not likely to be known before 2030, if then.”

Read the full article on the New York Times Website here.

Sheila Sky Kasselman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2007 after about 9 months of experiencing the following symptoms: weight loss, nausea, fatigue, diabetes and jaundice.

“When I was diagnosed, I didn’t know one person who had the disease. Throughout my diagnosis and treatment I would think, ‘I wish I had someone to talk to other than my doctors.’ But there was no one for me to reach out to.”

After Sheila survived Whipple surgery, she committed all the strength in her body, mind and spirit to finding a way to help others who are unaware they have the cancer until it’s too late. Sky Foundation, Inc. is the result of her passionate commitment.

“Through education, awareness and research we are able to advance knowledge to those diagnosed with the disease or to those who have lost a loved one. Our goal is to find an early detection method to increase survival rates.”

To date, Sky has raised — and donated – nearly $2.5 million to promising researchers around the country.

In 2020, 14 years after her first diagnosis her cancer was rediscovered. Sheila is now undergoing chemotherapy. She continues to be just as involved with the same enthusiasm and helps others with the same level of passion, day in and day out.

Today, Sheila continues her legacy with energy and positive attitude to provide hope and knowledge when people face the challenges of a disease that they never anticipated.

Join us on Thursday, January 20th to watch Q & A with Sheila K. on Facebook.

The medical oncologist has led many breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumors

DETROIT (Jan. 6, 2022) – Internationally renowned medical oncologist Philip A. Philip, M.D., Ph.D., has joined Henry Ford Cancer Institute (HFCI) as director of Gastrointestinal Oncology and Neuroendocrine Oncology, medical director of Research and Clinical Care Integration, and co-leader of the Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center (HFPCC). Joining Henry Ford’s team of leading cancer experts, Dr. Philip has led numerous breakthroughs over the course of his career in the areas of pancreatic cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.

“Dr. Philip is a prolific researcher and skillful clinician with extensive experience in an academic medical center environment,” said Steven Kalkanis, M.D., CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group and Chief Academic Officer at Henry Ford Health System. “He is a strong leader with a proven track record demonstrating his deep commitment to providing outstanding patient care and achieving scientific breakthroughs that are continuing to help advance research in many aspects of pancreatic cancer. We are thrilled to have Dr. Philip joining our Henry Ford Cancer Institute as we launch into the next generation of both patient care and clinical research.”

Continue to read the full article on Henry Ford Health System’s website here

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the hide-and-seek champions of the cancer world, great at evading attempts by the immune system to find it and stealthily sending its carcinoma cells to invade other parts of the body, often before the main tumor is even discovered.

While immunotherapy and other targeted treatments involving monoclonal antibodies have been successful in other cancers, pancreatic cancer has been notoriously tough to target because of a lack of suitable cell surface targets to which the antibodies can bind.

But a new target has been identified, and researchers are hopeful that an investigational drug that homes in on it may be an effective treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Taking Advantage of a New Target

Claudin proteins regulate paracellular barriers to control the flow of molecules between cells, acting like a glue between cells that holds them together. They are found in healthy intestinal systems, but a certain isoform—CLDN18.2—is highly expressed in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.

In this form, the glue is weaker, which may contribute to metastasis, since it becomes easier for cancerous cells to detach from the primary tumor and disperse. But it could also help expose antibodies for monoclonal antibodies to bind to.

One such monoclonal antibody, zolbetuximab (IMAB362), has been developed to seek out CLDN18.2 on the surface of tumor cells and bind to it, identifying the cells for immune-mediated destruction.

Continue reading the entire article on Let’s Win’s website here.

Sheila (Founder & 14.5 year survivor of pancreatic cancer) & Annie (Sky’s Event Director) shared their picture on social media. With support of many Sky followers & friends, Sky Foundation was recognized by Willie Geist during his show. This was aired on Sunday TODAY during Pancreatic Cancer Month in November 2021.

Watch the clip below to see the appearance!

Thanks to a suggestion by Board Member, Niki Gallaudet Sky was featured in Birmingham, Michigan the weekend before our Annual Celebration aired live virtually.

Women’s Event Discussion with Shannon Crone

The sooner most cancers are discovered, the better the odds they can be successfully treated.

Mayo Clinic participated in research on a test that can detect more than 50 cancers, CBS Minnesota reports.

“My dad, he was a healthy guy. He didn’t have any known risk factors for cancer,” Dr. Julia Feygin said. Feygin lost her 40-year-old father to pancreatic cancer when she was 13. Diagnosed at stage three, he lived for nine more months.

To watch the video and continue reading the entire article, please visit https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cancer-blood-test-early-detection/.

“Ask Dr. Azmi” with Asfar Azmi, PhD

Submit A Matching Gift with Your company

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

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

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Contact Person for Matching Gifts at Sky Foundation:

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

Visit this page for frequently asked questions.

AMAZON SMILE

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from customers’ eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organizations they select.

Here’s to sign up for AmazonSmile:

Visit amazon.com
2. Click on the “Get Started” button and sign in with your Amazon.com credentials
Search for “Sky Foundation Inc.”
Select “Sky Foundation Inc.”
Start shopping!
Every time you return to amazon, make sure to type in SMILE.AMAZON.COM in your browser and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

Sky Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee has awarded three research projects in 2021 with a $50,000 seed grants to each.

Learn more abut our three new researchers by clicking on their information below:

Ben Stenger, MD, PhD (Professor of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology | University of Pennsylvania)

Christopher Halbrook, PhD (Assistant Professor | University of California Irvine)

Kathleen DelGiorno (Assistant Professor | Vanderbilt University)

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and it is the third-deadliest cancer. According to data released by the American Cancer Society, it will be the second deadliest by 2030.

Sky Foundation has dedicated itself to educate the community on the signs and symptoms and award seed-money grants to scientists and clinicians from coast to coast who are pursuing research of great promise in the areas of early detection, prevention, or treatment.

The best way we have found to educate the community is the constant drumbeat of symptom awareness. That drumbeat gets the loudest in November.

The most common symptoms are:

Sudden weight loss
Fatigue and weakness
Back pain
Blood clots
Depression
Stomach pain
Nausea
New onset of diabetes
Jaundice

Not everyone gets all of these symptoms. Having a gastroenterologist on your medical team can help. With this cancer, an early diagnosis is the best chance for a successful outcome.

November can be a resounding success if we use this month to learn more about pancreatic cancer.

Sincerely,

Sheila Sky Kasselman

Founder and Survivor

Sky Foundation

Shannon F. Crone

President and Spousal Survivor

Sky Foundation

Managing Director

EY Detroit

Note: Sky Foundation’s Annual Celebration during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month is Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. To learn more about the virtual event, visit www.skyfoundationinc.org

Chris Halbrook, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Christopher Halbrook, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of California Irvine in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with memberships in the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCI Cancer Research Institute, and UCI Institute for Immunology. His dedication to pancreatic cancer research began in his graduate training with Dr. Howard Crawford at Stony Brook University and The Mayo Clinic and was strengthened during his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan with Drs. Costas Lyssiotis and Marina Pasca di Magliano.

The research in the Halbrook lab focuses on identifying and targeting interactions among cell populations found in pancreatic tumors. These techniques have led to seminal findings describing mechanisms of metabolic crosstalk with functional consequences on tumor growth, chemoresistance, and immune suppression. Through the support of Sky Foundation, the Halbrook lab is using patient-derived organoid models to identify and target metabolic mechanisms of chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Through this work, they expect to make significant inroads toward improving the patient response to standard-of-care therapies.

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.

Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania

Bio: 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). 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/).

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

Annie Dalton