This May, Danyelle Shapiro and Ashley Katzen hosted their 7th annual Purple & White Fight Night in Boca Raton, FL. The two women started the event in 2014 in memory of Ashley’s mother, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 54, and Danyelle’s father, who lost his life to lung cancer at age 41.
Proceeds are divided evenly between the Lung Cancer Research Foundation and the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Research. This year’s event raised about $80,000.
The collaboration between Ashley and Danyelle was sparked by the impact cancer has had on their lives and the grim survival statistics for each disease. Their personal message is simple yet passionate: “Awareness is hope, and hope never quits!”
Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center attended the event and spoke on behalf of LCRF and the lung cancer community.
