All set for ‘Remember September’ challenge

IT’S not too late to sign up for the Remember September Challenge to raise vital funds for pancreatic cancer research via the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, or to sponsor participants.

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Australia. Due to usually only being detectable in the latter stages, the average survival time after diagnosis is just 3-6 months.

Yet research for this cancer receives less than one per cent of total funding for cancer research.

The challenge involves refraining from drinking any liquids other than water for a month from September 1, and it has raised $126,000 in the last four years, including $66,000 last year when a record 82 people took part.

Sydney’s Ben Wilhelm established the annual fundraiser in dedication to his father Danny, who died from pancreatic cancer on September 15, 2014 ninth months after being diagnosed.

It also honours Ben’s cousin Danielle Sirmai, who was 33 when she died from the disease in 2012, just six weeks after diagnosis.

This year Ben is co-ordinating the campaign alongside his older brother, David.

“We hope to raise $100,000 for pancreatic cancer research by the end of next month,” Ben Wilhelm said.

For more information, visit https://rememberseptember.gofundraise.com.au or follow on www.facebook.com/rememberseptember24.

AJN STAFF