Friends get together to fight pancreatic cancer

A group of friends who lost much-loved family members to pancreatic cancer are staging a charity night to raise cash for vital research.

This aggressive form of cancer has the worst 10-year survival rate of any cancer, with most patients being told they may have less than a year to live. It is also one of the most poorly-funded cancers.

Laura Paterson, Hannah Sodden, Caitlin Forrest and Eilidh Forrest, who are all from Kirkintilloch, are holding the fundraising ceilidh at the Miners Welfare Institute on Saturday, May 28.

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Laura lost her grandpa Robert Ralston to the disease a few years ago. He passed away within three months of diagnosis.

Caitlin and Eilidh lost their gran, who died eight weeks 
after diagnosis, while Hannah’s uncle, passed away after just six weeks.

There are 8,875 cases of pancreatic cancer a year in the UK, with almost the same number of people dying from it annually.

Just one per cent of sufferers are alive 10 years after diagnosis - a survival rate that has not changed in 40 years.

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Laura said: “All of us have had someone in the family affected by pancreatic cancer.

“We have decided to raise money for research to detect earlier diagnosis.

“Sadly, only 1.4 per cent of the funds from Cancer 
Research UK goes towards pancreatic cancer research.

“We were shocked by this and wanted to make a difference and are raising money for Pancreatic Cancer Scotland.”

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The ceilidh will run from 7.30pm until midnight. Tickets are priced £7 for adults and £5 per child.

Laura added: “On the night there will be a chance to win a variety of amazing prizes in the raffle and auction kindly donated by local firms.”

Other exciting prizes include a signed poster from Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, two luxury lodge holidays worth £300 each, spa vouchers and a day out at Knockhill motoring circuit.

The girls have also set up a Facebook group. Visit www.facebook.com/Tough-Purples

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