“Kelly was more than my best friend. She was my person, my confidant and my sounding board.” 💜 For #PanCANVolunteer Kecia S., pancreatic cancer has been part of her story since before she was born. Her grandfather was diagnosed two months before her birth and lived long enough to celebrate her first Christmas. Decades later, Kecia became the 24/7 caregiver for her best friend, Kelly, following her pancreatic cancer diagnosis in 2022. “It was a silent monster.” Kelly survived for five months. During that time, Kecia cared for her through treatment and hospice, an experience she describes as “the honor of a lifetime.” “She embodied the word hero. She was courageous and did everything with class and dignity.” After Kelly’s death, Kecia knew she needed to channel her grief somewhere. Having spent so much time caring for her best friend, she wasn’t ready to stop. She connected with a PanCAN volunteer and found a way to continue caring for others in Kelly’s honor. “I needed to do something so I could still feel like I was taking care of Kelly. Volunteering with PanCAN is the way I can do it.” Today, Kecia helps bring the Pittsburgh PanCAN community together through #PanCANPurpleStride, serving as the Pittsburgh Affiliate’s Event Day Volunteer Chair. “Kelly’s life still matters. It still has purpose and has led to a ripple effect of caring.” Read Kecia’s story and learn how she continues to honor the people she loves through volunteering with PanCAN at 🔗 pcan.at/gaxde8ei.