Star Trek Veteran Jonathan Frakes is teaming up with some other franchise drivers to continue the fight against pancreatic cancer. Frakes alongside Armin Shimerman, who played Quark for seven seasons Star Trek: Deep Space Nineand Shimernan’s wife Kitty Swink, who guest starred DS9joins together to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer research. Star Trek: Enterprise star John Billingsley also joins the effort, dubbed the Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer.
Fans can donate and register for associated events at PanCAN PurpleStrides website here. PurpleStride 2023 will take place in Los Angeles and 59 other communities around the United States on April 29. Frakes has appealed to generosity, empathy and progressive thinking Star Trek fans in his crusade against pancreatic cancer. This is the third time Frakes, Shimerman and Swink’s Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer has walked the PanCAN PurpleStride.
How pancreatic cancer has affected the Star Trek family
The battle against pancreatic cancer is personal for Frakes and his friends. Frakes lost his brother, Daniel, to the disease over two decades ago. Kitty Swink is currently a 19-year-old survivor. John Billingsley, who played Dr. Phlox on Star Trek: Enterpriseis a Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer novice who recently lost her mother to the disease.
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease. Survival rates have historically been very low, but in recent years they have risen slightly and now stand at 12% – 3 times what it was when Frakes lost his brother Daniel in the 1990s. Much of this progress can be attributed to advances in medical research that have been facilitated by charities such as PanCAN. Pancreatic cancer survival rates have increased two years in a row; PurpleStride 2023 could be the key to making it three years in a row.
Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer’s goal is to raise $90,000. This is clearly a personal battle for Frakes, Shimerman, Swink and Billingsley. It’s a noble effort, and Star Trek fans should do everything they can to support their efforts, financially or otherwise. Visit PanCAN PurpleStride 2023 website to find out how you can help bring a little of Star Trek hope and optimism for the Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer, a very important fight in the real world.
Source: Walk against pancreatic cancer