November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and I am urging our community to join the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as we Wage Hope in the fight against the fourth-leading cause of cancer death.

Our pancreatic cancer community is made up of volunteers, advocates, survivors and caregivers — all trailblazers fighting for progress no matter what it takes. It means the five-year survival rate, at just 6 percent, must change.

A few years ago, a good friend of mine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 42, a single parent to a 17-year-old. He died six months later. He wanted to see his son graduate high school. He wanted to become a grandpa.

Sadly, he missed those special moments. I went to an affiliate meeting of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network shortly after his death. I have never met a more caring, energetic and passionate group of people.

Please visit www.wagehope.org and join us in our efforts to Wage Hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

Charlotte Garrett of Greenwood was born and raised in El Dorado Springs, Mo. She is married, has two sons and is passionate about increasing funding for cancer research.