Published: Thursday, 18th November 2021
Alive Corn Exchange and King’s Lynn Town Hall will glow with purple light tonight, Thursday 18 November, to mark World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
Organised by individuals affected by the disease, the campaign is a way to remember loved ones lost to pancreatic cancer, support those living with and beyond the disease, as well as raise awareness during November’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
Purple Lights for pancreatic cancer is supported by UK based charities Pancreatic Cancer UK, Pancreatic Cancer Action, Planets and Guts UK. The campaign involves the act of lighting purple focal points in villages, towns and cities all over the UK on World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
Nearly 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK each year and shockingly, less than 7% of those diagnosed will survive beyond 5 years. The disease currently receives just 3% of UK cancer research funding, despite being the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer.
Yvonne Corr sadly died this year of pancreatic cancer
West Norfolk resident Helen Bindley who lost her sister to pancreatic cancer earlier this year said: “I want to raise people’s awareness of pancreatic cancer and ask people not to ignore symptoms associated with this cancer. Having lost my sister Yvonne to this aggressive cancer in January this year. Sadly, it was diagnosed too late to treat her but if others can benefit from treatment from early diagnosis it would save a lot of lives and heartache.”
Cllr Sam Sandell, Cabinet member for People and Communities, added: “I am pleased that we can raise awareness of this dreadful disease by taking part in the Purple Lights for pancreatic cancer campaign. I hope that, by lighting up King’s Lynn Town Hall and Corn Exchange in purple tonight, it will help put a spotlight on a disease that many people still know so very little about.”
Purple Lights for pancreatic cancer is supported by UK based charities Pancreatic Cancer UK, Pancreatic Cancer Action and Planets.
If you would like to take part or find out more about Purple Lights for pancreatic cancer, please visit purplelightsuk.org