This year alone, more than 56,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. It is amongst one of the hardest cancers to treat, due to the location of the pancreas in the torso and tumor development can be difficult to find until the tumor is in later stages. About 43,000 men and women that are diagnosed this year will pass away. Although this cancer is more rare, in comparison to breast or lung cancer, it is sadly still at large due to the death’s it leads to every year.  

Organizations such as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network were created to try and fight this cancer. Every year, the PCAN hosts multiple events in order to fundraise money for patients and research and to help raise awareness. This past weekend, the Colorado Mesa women’s lacrosse team held a fundraiser during their game against Lindenwood University.    

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First-year head coach Shanta Loecker, whose father sadly passed away in July of 2017 from pancreatic cancer, has held fundraisers for Pancreatic Cancer research at all of the other previous schools she has coached at. This year the CMU women’s lacrosse team paired with the PCAN to honor Head Coach Loecker’s father and to raise awareness for Pancreatic Cancer. During the game this past weekend the goal was to raise two thousand dollars. Although the final amount raised has not been disclosed as of yet, it has been revealed the goal was indeed met due to the vast support of the students and attendees.

“We’re very thankful for all of the support that the campus community showed us while we raised money for this organization,” Assistant Coach Ashley Glenn said.

This was the third game in honor of Loecker’s father by any of her past or present teams since 2017.  

The Mavs were also selling both wristbands and t-shirts during the game to help raise the money to meet their goal along with having a 50/50 raffle and a Miracle Minute in which the purpose was to raise as much money as possible in 60 seconds. The Miracle Minute took in about 150 dollars towards the fundraiser.