In 1996, my mother Rose was daignosed with pancreatic cancer and given 3-6 monhts to live. My first thought was "Oh no! Thtat is what Michael Landon had and he died really quickly even with all of his money and resources!"

My second thought was "I know, I will go online and find the organization that deals with pancreatic cancer and I will save my mom." I was mortified to discover that there was not a single organization anywhere in the country that was addressing pancreatic cancer even though it had been determined to be the deadliest of all of the top cancer killers.

This was simply not acceptable to me. Especially after my mother followed doctor's directions and died in six months - and there was nothing we could have done.

There are no early detection methods, no effective treatements and no cure for pancreatic cancer. And no one was doing anything about it. . .

During my mom's battle with the disease I had done some research and discovered that pancreatic cancer had taken the lives of not only Michael Landon but also Donna Reed, Henry Mancini, Paul Mitchell, Juliet Prowse, Joan Crawford, Jack Benny, John Beradino, Fernando Llamas and many many more big names!

I had watched what had happened with AIDS when Elizabeth Taylor stepped up to raise her voice for the cause. The vision began with that thought. . .

On November 8, 1998, I produced the first ever fundraiser for pancreatic cancer . . . a black tie celebrity gala at The Bevery Hills Hotel. All of the celebrity families who lost loved ones were there along with hundreds of people who I had met on an online chat board who had also lost loved ones to pancreatic cancer. It was a sold out event and the proceeds funded the first ever early detection lab at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore! A few short months later, in February of 1999, I founded the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network - www.pancan.org.

Today we are the leading force in the fight against pancreatic cancer! We have started a movement and are changing the course of history for pancreatic cancer. Our comprehensive approach of advancing research, both privately and advocating for more government investment in pancreatic cancer research; supporting patients through our Patient & Liaison Services program and creating hope through our Community Outreach efforts with our passionate volunteers all over the country.

I am no one special. I am just one person who was angry and motivated because my mother's life was taken by a disease that was being completely ignored in this country. Each and every one of us can make a difference. Just find your passion and it will move mountains. Don't sit around and wait for someone else to make things happen. Create inspiration, create hope and empower others to do the same!

I know my mother smiles down from heaven. . .I do this for her.