ATLANTA,
November 2, 2002 - November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Month and hundreds of motorcyclists, their passengers,
friends and families took to the road from Suwanee to
Lake Lanier and back on Saturday November 2 to benefit
pancreatic cancer research.
The 1st Annual Ride to Make a Difference for Pancreatic
Cancer Research began and ended at the new Fire House
Food & Spirits restaurant at 300 Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard. Commemorative T-shirts and pins were given
to the first 300 registrants donating $20 per bike.
After the ride, participants went back to the Fire
House and were treated to live music by Blues Envy,
raffle prizes, silent auction items, vendors and food
and drink specials.
An added attraction for motorcycle enthusiasts was
bike show after the ride. For an additional $10 contribution
per bike, the competition covered 1st, 2nd and 3rd
place winners in eight categories plus Best of Show:
The categories include Best Chrome; Best EVO; Best
Pre-EVO; Best Sport; Best Paint; Best Rat; Best Custom
Manufactured; and Best Custom Built.
Sponsors of the event included Fire House Food & Spirits
Restaurant, Mall of Georgia Ford, MicroLiter Analytical
Supplies Inc., J&S Chemical, World Gym, Ben & Jerry's
Ice Cream, and Results Realty Services. Media sponsors
included 96Rock, 680 The Fan, B98.5, Lake 102.5, and
Full Throttle Magazine.
Event organizers encouraged non-riders as well as
riders to attend, to enjoy themselves and contribute
to pancreatic cancer research.
"The Joseph C. Monastra Fund for Pancreatic Cancer
Research and Prevention at Johns Hopkins University
was established by my mother, my three sisters and
me in honor of my father who died of pancreatic cancer
in April of this year," said Pamela Monastra Swanson,
a resident of Forsyth County. "We met this summer with
Georgia Congressman Johnny Isakson to help increase
understanding of the need to support pancreatic cancer
research."
Swanson explained that pancreatic cancer has a 99%
fatality rate, is the deadliest of all cancers, and
attacks men and women equally. Of the one percent who
survive, less than one-half percent will live beyond
five years. Most die quickly. "My father was taken
only four weeks after diagnosis," she said. "There
are no known effective treatment options and no early
detection methods," she added. "That's why we're dedicated
to help provide resources to Johns Hopkins University,
the leading center for pancreatic cancer research and
prevention in the United States."
One-hundred-percent of all monies raised at the Ride
went directly to the Fund. Representing the pancreatic
research team from Johns Hopkins at the event waschief
scientist Christine Iacobuzio who acted as the ride's
official starter.
Additional tax-deductible contributions may be made
directly to the Fund, Swanson explained. Checks should
be made payable to "Johns Hopkins University" and,
in the memo area, write "Joseph C. Monastra Fund" to
be sure it is applied correctly. Checks may be mailed
directly to Dr. Ralph Hruban, Johns Hopkins Department
of Pathology, Weinberg 2242, 401 N. Broadway, Baltimore,
Maryland 21287. For more information on the Fund and
pancreatic cancer research, visit: http://pathology2.jhu.edu/pancreas/monastra.htm.
God Bless, love and hope.
The Family of Joseph C. Monastra
