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About

About Coasters for a Cure
Coasters for a Cure was started in 2010 as an event created to help raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. Traveling to eight different amusement parks across the Midwest United States, our goal is to make an impact and help RAISE THE CURE!

Why Pancreatic Cancer?
In 2000, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After a year long battle consisting of numerous treatments, surgeries, and medications, Edward J. Lepolt had his life taken on April 20, 2001. The struggle that my father had with pancreatic cancer was a very eye-opening experience. It is terrible to see what this disease can to do healthy individuals in such a short period of time, and it’s even worse to know that there still is no cure. Coasters for a Cure is dedicated to my father.

Why Roller Coasters?
One of the things that we always did as a family was take a yearly trip to Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, OH. It was there with my dad that my love for roller coasters was developed and molded into the obsession that it has become today. For 18 straight years my mom and dad took my siblings and me to Cedar Point. Since my dad’s passing we have continued the tradition and in the summer of 2010 it will be my 27th consecutive year making at least one trip to the park! Not a Cedar Point trip goes by that I don’t remember my father, and wonder how much he would enjoy some of the new attractions that have been built since his last trip to Cedar Point in 2000. He was a huge fan of Millennium Force, and I can only imagine what he would think today of rides like Top Thrill Dragster, Maverick and Shoot the Rapids…

About Pancreatic Cancer
Some cancers are constantly in the national spotlight—breast, lung, colon, and others. However, little is known about the lesser known cancers, such as pancreatic. Pancreatic cancer does not boast celebrity endorsements, nor is it a trendy cause to support. In fact, you might say it is the “underdog cancer”. It is under funded, under recognized and not well understood.

This year over 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 35,000 will not survive. Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest fatality rates of all major cancers making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Pancreatic cancer is often called a silent killer because many times the signs and symptoms can go unnoticed until the cancer is in an advanced stage. Common symptoms are pain in the upper abdomen or upper back, loss of appetite, significant weight loss, and jaundice. There currently are no pre-screening or early detection tools, which is why 76% of people with pancreatic cancer die within 12 months of diagnosis.

(source: http://www.pancan.org/purplestride/pancreatic_cancer_facts.html)

Famous Names
Big names in the media that have lost their lives to pancreatic cancer:

What can I do to help?
Visit our Donations page for more information on how you can help.