By DON STINE
A $50,000 check was presented to the Lustgarten Foundation by Neptune, county, and state officials at the recent Neptune Township Committee meeting. The money was raised through the annual Pound the Pavement For Purple Committee, which holds an annual 5km run/walk in Neptune and Neptune City to raise the money to help fight pancreatic cancer. This year’s run was held on Oct. 6.
State Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling said that this is the first year the run/walk hit its $50,000 goal. The first run, five years ago, was held during a windy, rainy nor’easter but about 100 people still showed up. This year’s event had about 400 people participate.
“This event is growing so much as people realize that this is such a terrible disease,” Houghtaling said.
Mayor Nicholas Williams also proclaimed November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
In 2018, an estimated 55,400 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with 44,300 dying from the disease. It is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Ninety-one percent of pancreatic cancer patients will die within the first five years.
