PancreaticCure.org Announcements

Printable version of this invitation
R.S.V.P. to this event

Todd Buras signs with Research Racing & Hooverspeed for 2008 MX-5 Cup season
Boca Raton, Florida
March 4, 2008

For more information contact:
Allan Boshell
Telephone: 954-206-6702
E-mail:
aboshell@pancreaticcure.org

For Immediate Release

Research Racing, LLC announced today its 2008 “Drive To Survive” campaign has signed on perennial favorite and hot shoe Todd Buras to drive their Hooverspeed-prepared Mazda MX-5 race car in this years SCCA Pro Racing’s Playboy MX-5 Cup Series. The effort, one of several initiatives by the team for 2008, is designed to raise awareness and $1,000,000 in funding for pancreatic cancer research.

Boca Raton resident Allan Boshell with Chad Stanford of Ft. Lauderdale are Research Racing’s team principals. Their mission in establishing the team, and hiring Buras, is to conduct a successful race campaign to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer and to encourage others to go to www.pancreaticcure.org and become involved in this battle to eradicate a terrible disease.

“We are delighted to be working with Hooverspeed and now to have Todd behind the wheel of the www.pancreaticcure.org car,” Boshell said with enthusiasm. “We, too, are honored to be part of this important campaign,” Hooverspeed team principal Jason Hoover stated. “We value the opportunity to be associated with such a dedicated team and such a great, humanitarian cause”.

The Foundation purpose is to fund research devoted to pancreas cancer. They do this by partnering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org), one of Research Racing’s other sponsors, along with Provenance Fighters. All who share the goal of wiping out this dreadful disease. “Todd’s experience and accomplishments on the track and in the SCCA Pro series will help us make a giant step in this year’s awareness and fundraising campaign”, added Mr. Boshell.

Todd Buras had this to say about signing with the team, “I didn’t realize it before now, but it was a grassroots effort by the friends and relatives of Susan G. Komen that brought so much attention to breast cancer. Through the work of www.pancreaticcure.org we want to also raise people’s awareness of this other cancer and provide hope to those who must endure it. “This is a success even before we take to the track,” added Buras. “I am honored and excited to be a part of something that is larger than any of us on our own. I am really excited to be with Hooverspeed and to be representing the Research Racing team.”

About the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation

Founded in 2006, the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation was established to aid in the advancement of research, education, and awareness of pancreatic cancer. The Foundation’s focus is to increase the funding to organizations dedicated to pancreas cancer research with special emphasis on scientific discovery for early detection and prevention. For more information go to www.pancreaticcure.org or call Diane Serianni at 954-592-0866. Donations may be made online or to donate by mail send check to:

The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
102 NE 2nd Street, Suite 280
Boca Raton, FL 33432

About Research Racing

Founded in 2007 to compete in various motorsports and road racing series events, Research Racing is dedicated to the effort of increasing awareness and funding for pancreas cancer research within the racing community and the community at large through partner sponsors. The team works closely with Hooverspeed of Cameron Park, California to build, prepare, and field the cars. For more information, please visit www.research-racing.com.

THE PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK SUPPORTS THE PATTY BOSHELL PANCREATIC CANCER FOUNDATION’S “DRIVE TO SURVIVE” CAMPAIGN

For Immediate Release

EL SEGUNDO, CA – (February 1, 2008) – The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) today announced it’s support of the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and their “Drive to Survive” campaign, which is committed to raising $1 million for pancreatic cancer research. This grass roots campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the disease and advocating for the over 37,000 victims and their families that pancreatic cancer strikes each year. “Drive to Survive” started with an email campaign urging people to view and pass along the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation message at www.pancreaticcure.org and will continue with Allan Boshell participating in auto races across the United States in memory of his late wife, Patty Boshell. She died in 2005 at the age of 49 from pancreatic cancer.

“Drive to Survive” will raise awareness for pancreatic cancer with nearly 20 races in over ten cities, from February to October, including: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Daytona, Florida; Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Danville, Virginia; Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Birmingham, Alabama; and Monterey, California. The Research Racing car and team will be identified with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network logo, and racers, crews and fans will be encouraged to support the campaign by visiting www.pancreaticcure.org.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will receive proceeds from the $1 million raised and in turn will fund research grants underwritten by the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. The goal of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is to fund innovative research, grow the number of researchers directly working on this disease, force collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and act as a facilitator in the research community in order to expedite scientific progress for patient benefit. Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. yet receives the least amount of federal funding for research, prevention and cure.

“We are honored to be a part of “Drive to Survive” and support the campaign with new innovative research grants,” said Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “Finding a cure for pancreatic cancer begins with research, and we are able to fund that research with the dedicated efforts of organizations like the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.”

“By working with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, we’re providing much needed research dollars to fund the early detection, treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer,” said Allan Boshell, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. “And, through the “Drive to Survive” campaign, we are raising awareness for one of the deadliest cancers and giving hope to the over 37,000 people who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.”

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, visit www.pancan.org. For more information about “Drive to Survive” and the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, visit www.pancreaticcure.org.

About The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Founded in 2006, the Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation was established to aid in the advancement of research, education, and awareness of pancreatic cancer. The Foundation’s focus is to increase the funding to organizations dedicated to pancreas cancer research with special emphasis on scientific discovery for early detection and prevention.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Founded in 1999, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization raises money for direct private funding of research—and advocates for more aggressive federal research funding of medical breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network fills the void of information and options by giving patients and caregivers reliable, personalized information they need to make informed decisions. And, by helping individuals and communities across the country work together to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

###

Contact:

Jennifer Reeves
Public Relations Manager
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Direct: 310-321-6542
Email: jreeves@pancan.org

Pancreatic Cancer Research Goal Set At $1,000,000
Boca Raton, Florida
January 2, 2008

The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation announced today its 2008 “Drive To Survive” campaign. The effort, one of several initiatives for 2008, is designed to raise $1,000,000 in funding for pancreatic cancer research.

In 2007 the Boshell Foundation agreed to underwrite a Career Development Research Award for $100,000. That award goes to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a non-profit based in California that screens and directs the research efforts of scientists nation wide. Now, the Foundation Board has upped its game and is committed to funding not only that award but to add others and make them “in perpetuity”.

“Pancreatic cancer is the number four cancer killer of all cancers in the U.S. Yet, the funding and research for it is the least, barely one-tenth the funding of the other three”, said Board Chairman Allan Boshell. “By working with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and other organizations we can change those statistics”.

Patty Boshell, a long-time Boca resident died in September of 2005 from the disease. She was 49 years old. Her husband Allan, Patty’s childhood friend Lisa Young and several of Patty’s friends formed the foundation in her name to try and improve the dismal statistics of this deadliest of all cancers.

The “Drive to Survive” is designed as an Internet based campaign Mr. Boshell described. “It depends on people taking an interest and then letting their Internet and email friends know about us. And then they in turn pass it along. The goal is to simply direct traffic to the Foundation web site. If enough people visit the donations will follow”, he explained.

“You don’t realize it now, Mr. Boshell stated, but until there was a grassroots effort by the sister and friends of Susan G. Komen, breast cancer was much more deadly than it is today”. We intend to make this a grassroots, everyman movement as well”.

Part of that grass roots effort is involving the motor sports racing community. Mr. Boshell is a part-time racecar driver and has designed a plan to involve that constituency. Part of the plan is driving a car painted purple sporting the foundation web address. The other part is getting another driver to the same in a much larger professional series - all of this to raise awareness and direct traffic to the web site.

For more information you can go to www.pancreaticcure.org or call Diane Serianni at 954-592-0866. The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible. Donations may be made online or to donate by mail send check to:

The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
102 NE 2nd Street, Suite 280
Boca Raton, FL 33432

$100,000 Gift To Benefit Pancreatic Cancer Research
Boca Raton, Florida
May 17, 2007

The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation announced today that it has agreed to underwrite a Career Development Research Award for $100,000 in 2008. The award will go to the Pancreatic Action Network, also known as PanCAN who will select the recipient under the strict guidelines of the American Association of Cancer Research.

The award is offered to young research scientists who dedicate 100% of their efforts to the study of pancreas cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. yet receives the least amount of federal funding for research, prevention and cure.

“You don’t realize it now, Mr. Boshell stated, but until there was a grassroots effort by the friends and relatives of Susan G. Komen, breast cancer was much more deadly than it is today.

“Through Patty’s foundation as a fund raising machine and PanCAN as a patient support and research advocate organization, we plan to similarly raise people’s awareness of this disease and provide hope to those who must endure it. With the grassroots help of the people we can make a difference.”

Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of PanCAN had this to say “First of all, I want to say thank you to Allan and the Board again for your confidence in PanCAN. We also are so grateful for your agreement to support a Career Development Award for pancreatic cancer. We are thrilled to have you on board.”

The Foundation is working on plans for its next big event to be held in October of this year. For more information you can go to www.pancreaticcure.org or call Diane Serianni at 954-592-0866. Donations may be made online or to donate by mail send check to:

The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
102 NE 2nd Street, Suite 280
Boca Raton, FL 33432

Man vows to boost cancer research
BY MARY THURMAN YUHAS
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

MAN ON A MISSION: Allan Boshell with photographs of him and his wife, Patty,
who died from pancreatic cancer. Photo/Gina Fontana

Allan Boshell, 53, of Boca Raton is on a mission, and he's taken it to Washington. It began when his wife, Patty, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 49.

He stood by her side as she battled the disease for the next 88 days. Boshell, angry and heartbroken, made a vow to do everything he could to make others aware of the illness and help fund research for a cure.

Patty Boshell died in September 2005, but The Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation he founded lives on, Boshell has raised $40,000 to date.

Boshell lobbied Congress during Cancer Week in May. He was in a four-member group from South Florida, One Voice Against Cancer. Boshell represented PanCAN, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a nonprofit patient advocacy group for pancreatic cancer based in Los Angeles.

He asked members of Congress to increase funding for pancreatic cancer research by 6.7% from $66.7 million to $71 million for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, Boshell said.

Although he said it was emotionally grueling to tell his story over and over, he visited 22 congressional members in two days. One was U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton.

"Boshell is taking his personal loss and using the energy from that experience to create a change," he said. "The most persuasive and impacting conversations I have are with people who come from home, travel to Washington on their own expense and talk about their own experience."

Klein said his mother dies from cancer and a close family friend is also battling pancreatic cancer, so he is a strong supporter of cancer research on a very personal level.

"Hopefully, we'll be able top get some type of reasonable increase in place," he said.

Pancreatic cancer has mild symptoms and is difficult to diagnose, because the pancreas is so deep within the body, said Liz Thompson, director of research and scientific affairs for PanCAN. By the time a diagnosis is made, the cancer often has spread to other organs, she said.

"It has the lowest survival rate of any major cancer," at 5 percent after five years, she said. Of the 37,000 Americans diagnosed this year, 75 percent will die within a year, according to Thompson.

"A cancer so deadly needs a bigger investment in detection, but the NIH is in tough terms in funding," she said.

Lisa Young of Stuart was Patty Boshell's best friend since elementary school. She was with the Boshells during those last days, and said she was so distraught, she had to find an outlet, so she designed a greeting card to sell. "To help this poor little neglected cancer get some attention," she said.

Patty Boshell was still alive and both Boshells helped her design the logo, a ginger flower on the back of the cards as a tribute to Patty's Japanese heritage, Young said. The cards' fronts say "promises kept", and she uses her own paintings. She has donated about $10,000 to the foundation so far.

She will sell her cards and artwork at the premiere Patty Boshell Pancreatic Cancer Foundation fundraiser, "Art from the Heart Promises Kept", in Boca Raton on October 19. Allan Boshell said as the event draws closer, there will be more details on the Website www.pancreaticcure.com.

Boshell recently signed a pledge to raise $100,000 for the PanCAN Scientific Award for Young Researchers, which goes to researchers who devote 100 percent of their research to pancreatic cancer.

An administrator at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, he has returned to his hobby of auto racing and takes pledges as another source of revenue for the foundation. "It's taking my passion and turning it into a purpose," he said.

Announcements and News