Put Your Foot Down Sydney 2019

A warm and sunny winter’s day greeted a record 524 walkers at Manly Beach for the 11th Put Your Foot Down Sydney walk, uniting a community and raising much-needed funds and awareness for a disease that is of increasing concern in Australia, Pancreatic Cancer.

Residents from Sydney and beyond, many who have been affected by the disease, met at North Steyne dressed spectacularly in purple walking along Manly beachfront as they put their foot down for Pancreatic Cancer. Dr Marina Pajic from the Garvan Institute updated participants on the critical research currently being undertaken by some of Australia’s leading researchers.

Caroline Kelly, the charity’s Co-Founder and Executive Director said: “We had a record number of people turn up to support the 11th Put Your Foot Down walk in Sydney. It’s all bout raising awareness and funds for the disease so we can invest these funds into research to make a difference in survival rates, and also to fund support services for patients. We encourage everyone to continue to support us as we try and make a difference for this chronically underfunded and devastating disease”.

Sydney resident Catherine Kane said “We’ve had a brilliant turn out today – the best ever. It’s such an important cause and after losing some of my family members to the disease it’s amazing to see so much support, with people dressed in purple supporting the Foundation and Pancreatic Cancer”.

Pancreatic Cancer is one of the most lethal cancers with a current 5-year survival rate of just 9.8%, and four out of every five patients diagnosed face a median survival of less than 12 months. 3,200 people are diagnosed each year, with the disease claiming virtually the same amount of lives as Breast Cancer in Australia. Even with these statistics, Pancreatic Cancer remains chronically under-funded.

Over $1,000,000 has been raised for Pancreatic Cancer research by the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation from ‘Put Your Foot Down’ walks conducted across the nation over the last 10 years, and all profits from this event will be invested into vital research projects into the disease, to add to the $7 million invested into cutting edge medical research.

Prizes on the day were awarded for best dressed and highest fundraisers and supporters will still have an opportunity to contribute to fundraising over the coming weeks: 

Make a donation here: https://putyourfootdownsydney2019.gofundraise.com.au/