Another ‘Team Tracy’: This time, fighting pancreatic cancer

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Click image for larger view; Tracy Burrows is the signholder in the center)
Another cancer-fighting “Team Tracy” has emerged in West Seattle – this time, rallying with the color purple, the official color of the fight against pancreatic cancer. The photo is shared by Madalyn, who explains the photo and its inspiration, as well as the namesake of this “Team Tracy,” who gathered for an event on Sunday:

Hi, my name is Madalyn Mincks and I live in West Seattle and I, like many of you, are friends and acquaintances of West Seattle’s Tracy Burrows. Tracy has been featured in our great West Seattle Blog on many occasions and she is extremely active with West Seattle High School’s PTSA, serving as President this year. In September, Tracy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has recently completed her third round of chemotherapy at SCCA Clinic.

Tracy is one of the most inspiring, intelligent, humorous and positive people most of us have ever met. Our friendships and her courage brought together over 80 participants in support of Team Tracy yesterday morning.

I would like to share a photo from yesterday’s PurpleStride Walk/Run. Magnuson Park was a beautiful location and over $222,000 was raised in the fight against pancreatic cancer. It was a powerful and inspiring day! The event was also a way to to kick off November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month!

When I asked if Tracy would be okay with my posting of the photo, she said yes and further commented that “Hopefully it will be inspiring to other folks who are in this cancer fight along with me.”

The PurpleStride event raised money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). According to the event website’s homepage, Team Tracy was a top-5 fundraiser!

Lauren November 5, 2013 (8:32 am)

Tracy is such a compassionate and inspiring person. I was not aware of her cancer fight and will be praying for her recovery!!

Mary Ellen O'Connor November 5, 2013 (10:01 am)

Hope Tracy’s recovery is swift. Sending up some prayers.

A November 5, 2013 (12:06 pm)

Sadly, pancreatic cancer is a killer. My sister in law was diagnosed two years ago. She’s fighting hard but basically her life consists of chemo every few weeks until she’s gone. It’s very, very sad. She is not yet 50. Fight hard Tracy. Too many people have cancer these days.

AG November 5, 2013 (2:13 pm)

I’m so sorry to hear this. I lost my dad to PanCan Christmas 2011. It’s a horrible disease and just doesn’t have a lot of great options. That said, living in Seattle, you are in the center of the foremost research and most advanced treatment in the world. In this city, you have a fighting chance. My dad had three years of good living. That’s about 2.5 years more than most people who are diagnosed. We did a lot of living in those three years, and we made every minute count. Dr. Picozzi and the team at Virginia Mason gifted us that time, and it was precious. I’m thankful for that.
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Tracy, it’s not my intention to discourage you in any way. I pray that you’re one of the 3% who kick this thing’s butt and live a long, healthy life.
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It’s also important for the community to know how serious this battle is. Recently, funding for Pancreatic Cancer research was cut out of a rare cancers bill. Yet it’s not all that rare, and advancing treatment is critical. Please take a moment to check out the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Your support is desperately needed. Few cancers are as deadly, as quickly, and there’s little to no screening available. By the time diagnosis is made, most people have weeks to live.
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This community was incredible in its support of my dad. If there is anything I can do to repay that by helping you, please say the word. You’ve got a hell of a fight ahead, but as my dad always said, “SOMEbody has to be the survivor. It may as well be me.” It wasn’t him, but I pray that it’ll be you.