FARLINGTON STAFF WEAR PURPLE FOR PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
20 Nov 2014
On Tuesday 11th November staff at Farlington School wore purple and bought purple cakes to support Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and highlight the importance of early diagnosis.
The ‘Wear Purple Day’ was organised by Sue Cooper, Farlington’s Head of Textiles, whose brother, Adrian Bunting, died from pancreatic cancer aged 47. Sue says, “He wasn’t diagnosed as having cancer by his doctor, but only when he went to A&E. There he was told he had only four to five weeks to live. Sadly, this is true for many. Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose and the only hope for any treatment is early diagnosis.
“In his last few weeks, Adrian drew up plans for what he hoped would become his legacy: The Brighton Open Air Theatre (B•O•A•T). It had always been his dream to build an open theatre in the city that he loved. Adrian initiated the designs, found the perfect site and arranged for his life’s savings to be left to the project. Adrian asked five of his friends if they would continue his dream after he had gone. The theatre is due to open next year.”
Pancreatic cancer is the 5th most common cause of all cancer deaths in the UK with only around 4% of people diagnosed surviving five years or more. This figure has hardly changed in 40 years. Worryingly, it is predicted that by 2030 pancreatic cancer will overtake breast cancer as the 4th most common cancer killer. More information can be found on the Pancreatic Cancer UK website – www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk.