Sky Foundation brunch to benefit pancreatic cancer research

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Sky Foundation, Inc., will hold its first major fundraiser during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, to benefit research in developing a diagnostic test for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

The brunch will be held Sunday, November 8, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at The Village Club, 190 E. Long Lake Road, between Woodward Ave. and Kensington Rd. in Bloomfield Hills. In addition to a delicious meal and cash bar, the event will include music by a classical string trio, a silent auction, and a brief program about Sky Foundation and its research objective.

Funds raised will help research efforts in developing a diagnostic test for the early detection of pancreatic cancer. The Karmanos Cancer Institute, in collaboration with Henry Ford Health System, is conducting the research supported by the Sky Foundation, which was founded by Sheila Sky Kasselman. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2007, Kasselman was surprised to learn that there was no test available to detect this disease in its early stage. After responding well to aggressive treatment, Kasselman showed hopeful signs of recovery. Kasselman’s doctors at Henry Ford Health System were so encouraged by her response to treatment that they asked her to transition from patient to partner and join them in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Kasselman established Sky Foundation in 2008. Sky Foundation's goal is to raise $500,000, which will allow vital research to be focused on pancreatic cancer. The funds raised through early efforts will remain in southeast Michigan and will be placed in the Sky Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. The initial money raised will be directed to funding research through the partnership with the researchers and physicians of the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Henry Ford Health System.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to detect and is often not diagnosed until the disease is in its late stage. According to the American Cancer Society’s recent statistics, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and has highest mortality rate of all the major cancers. In addition:

• 95% of patients will die within five years of diagnosis and only 5% survive more than five years
• 76% of patients with pancreatic cancer die within the first year of diagnosis
• Every day, an average of 116 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Between today and the end of National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month (November), approximately 8,120 people will be diagnosed with the disease
• This year alone, 42,470 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 35,240 will die from the disease.

Sky Foundation is working tirelessly with its partners, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Henry Ford Health System, to change these devastating statistics and help save lives. For more information www.skyfoundationinc.org.
Tickets for the event are $45 per person. Table sponsors are also available. To register and purchase tickets via PayPal by Oct. 30, click here or send your check by Oct. 28 to:
Sky Foundation, Inc.
33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 130
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304