Wings for Purple

Benefiting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Sponsored by the American Airlines Virtual Employee Business Resource Group.

Join American’s Virtual Employee Business Resource Group as we partner up with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan) and help raise awareness about the 3rd deadliest form of cancer that has only a 9% survival rate after 5-years; while also raising donations for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as well as either walking or running in PanCan’s PurpleStride Phoenix - The Walk to end Pancreatic Cancer.

PurpleStride fuels progress. And thanks to those who fundraise for PurpleStride, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is able to continue advancing research, serving more patients and families, and being the leading provider of pancreatic cancer services and information in the world.  Since the first walk in 2008, PurpleStride has been the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s most powerful vehicle for fundraising and awareness. Each year, in more than 50 PurpleStride events across the country, survivors, families, researchers, caregivers and others touched by pancreatic cancer come together to rewrite the future of this deadly disease.

Together, PanCan has raised more than $101 million for pancreatic cancer research and patient services through community events from 2008 to 2017. But the true impact of our work together is measured in progress, not dollars. The five-year survival rate has increased by three percentage points since 2014 and is now 9 percent.

Purple ribbons don’t rewrite the future of pancreatic cancer. You do.

How Wings for Purple got started:

John Biegel an American Airlines pilot for 27 years was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After a challenging three-year battle which he faced with optimism grace and humor John passed away on January 19 2018.

On May 5th, 2018 the American Airlines’ Virtual Employee Business Resource Group formed a corporate team called Let Purple Take Flight to participate in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s PurpleStride Los Angeles walk. In just 5 weeks the team raised over $10,000 in honor of Captain John Biegel.

Based on the feedback from the Los Angeles event Virtual found that employees system-wide were expressing their wish to have been able to participate. So Virtual decided to elevate the level of employee involvement by forming Wings for Purple. A program that allows American Employees to step up and get engaged with their local community while at the same time raise funds for a good cause – The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and increase American’s visibility with the public.

The Virtual EBRG has been working closely with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to design a way where any employee can either join each PurpleStride’s Wings for Purple Team or create a Wings for Purple Team on their own at any of the PurpleStride Events nationwide and the still be able to earn American Giving / Do Crew hours.