Wvu Mountaineer, Black Walnut Festival Teen Queen, and West Virginia Association of Fairs & Festival Queen to throw out first pitches at 9th Annual “Purple Power Night”

Volunteers for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network are excited to announce that three very special guests will be throwing out ceremonial “first pitches” at the 9th Annual Purple Power Night. Throwing out “first pitches” will be WVU Mountaineer Mascot Troy Clemons of Maxwelton, Black Walnut Festival Teen Queen, Lauren Gorman,and West Virginia Association of Fairs & Festivals Queen, Emily Lopez of Lumberport. Purple Power Night will be Thursday, July 28 at Appalachian Power Park as the West Virginia Power plays the Delmarva Shorebirds. The 9th Annual event honors all those who have been affected by pancreatic cancer.
During the game, the Power, the Single A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, will be wearing purple jerseys in their 7:05 p.m. game. The ceremonial first pitches will begin around 6:35 p.m. The jerseys will be auctioned off following the game with proceeds benefitting pancreatic cancer research.
During the evening, the special guests will be signing autographs and posing for pictures.
Tickets for the game are $8 each. For each ticket purchased in advance, half the proceeds will be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Annette Fetty-Santilli at 304-621-3648.
Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is expected to rise to the second leading cause by 2020. Pancreatic cancer is one of the nation’s deadliest cancers with a five-year survival rate of just 8%. An estimated 73% of patients will die in the first year of their diagnosis.
In 2015, an estimated 46,420 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, and approximately 39,590 will die from the disease. The number of new pancreatic cancer cases in the US hasbeen projected to increase by 55% between 2010 and 2030. Pancreatic canc
er is the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the eleventh most diagnosed cancer in men. Risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include family history of the disease, age, chronic or heredity pancreatitis, smoking, obesity, and long-standing diabetes.
For more information about pancreatic cancer or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, persons may refer to www.pancan.org or the Facebook page: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – West Virginia.