More than 1,200 volunteers and participants gathered on Centennial Campus Saturday morning for Purple Stride, an annual 5K organized by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth deadliest cancer in regards to the number of people it affects, but only 2 percent of government funding is allocated for pancreatic cancer research. 

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s goal is to increase funding through events like Purple Stride. The event helped raise more than $131,000, overreaching the goal of $100,000. 

“It’s important for people to support the cause because there is such a funding gap between the government budget and what we actually receive,” Susan Decker, co-chair for Purple Stride Raleigh-Durham, said. 

Dr. H.J. Kim, a surgeon and professor of surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that the event “gets bigger each year.” 

“It’s an incredible testament to the people involved,” Kim said. 

At the event, participants enjoyed refreshments, face and nail painting, and corn-hole. Some people also signed the memory wall in honor of love ones who have died from pancreatic cancer. 

The slogan of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, “know it, fight it, end it,” was as the theme of the event. 

Melanie Sanders, a news anchor from NBC-17, served as the emcee for the event. Sanders recognized pancreatic cancer survivors, sponsors and volunteers. 

Kim spoke at the event. He said he believes that increasing public awareness and raising money for research are the best ways to make an impact and find a cure.

Kim also encouraged people to follow the lead of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and “purple wash” products to raise awareness. 

“Everyone knows what the pink ribbon stands for, and we want that to be the case with the purple ribbon,” Kim said. 

Decker reiterated this idea when she shared her experiences with the audience. Decker’s mother, Jaff Rovegno, was a breast cancer survivor, but she lost her life to pancreatic cancer. 

“Breast cancer is something people can relate to because they know what it is and how it affects you. When my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I didn’t even know where the pancreas was,” Decker said. 

This is why part of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s slogan is “know it.”

“People have to understand what it is and how it can be prevented,” Decker said. 

The gene that causes pancreatic cancer has yet to be discovered. The current survival rate of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is only 6 percent. 

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network wants to double the survival rate for pancreatic cancer by 2020, according to Decker. 

Participants chose to create fundraising groups in memory or honor of someone.

Bobby Baker and his family chose to create a team in honor of his brother, Mike “The Fred” Baker. 

Baker shared that his brother was first misdiagnosed with pancreatitis. Six months later, his brother was properly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At that point, his brother had Stage IV pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver, kidneys, lym ph nodes and stomach. 

“He did one chemotherapy session and threw in the towel,” Baker said. “That really wasn’t like him to give up, so that tells you a lot about the ferocity of the cancer.”

Effie Bailey said she volunteered at the event because of the impact of pancreatic cancer on her life. Bailey had two sisters and a brother diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

“I knew I had to join the fight against pancreatic cancer. Unlike the war that my siblings fought, this war has hope and promise,” Bailey said. 

Pancreatic cancer survivors led the course, followed by runners and then walkers. 

Zerrad Taoufik was the first to cross the finish line. He said he chose to run in the race because he was a runner and someone from his family had cancer. 

“Unfortunately we didn’t have any student groups from N.C. State, but hopefully we will next year,” Decker said.