DETROIT (WXYZ) — PurpleLight Detroit 2019 will host a ceremony to honor pancreatic cancer survivors and those who have lost their lives to the disease on Sunday, October 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Detroit Main Public Library - Woodward Lawn.
The organization is encouraging survivors and family and friends who have been impacted by the disease to attend. It will be a gathering to remember and to wage hope.
Aretha Franklin's niece Cristal "CFranks" Franklin will be speaking at the event. The Queen of Soul passed away on August 16, 2018 after battling pancreatic cancer.
7 Action News Anchor Alicia Smith will emcee the PurpleLight ceremony. Alicia lost her father Dave Smith to pancreatic cancer on May 10, 2017, and she's committed to raising awareness.
On August 15 of this year, her father-in-law Mark Karell was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, too.
"I think about my Pops every single day. I miss him so much. And now I'm watching my sweet father-in-law go through the same battle. Mark's spirit is incredibly strong. He is such a fighter! But it's really been hard on him. We're praying he can beat this disease. He's waging hope, and so are we," Smith said.
The event is free and open to the public, but you must RSVP online to attend. Please consider making a donation as a way to support our ongoing efforts in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
