By Kelli Saunders
Staff Writer
Isn’t it worth running the extra mile to support Pancreatic Cancer?
The Amato family has created Pants Off Racing to support all who have been affected by someone diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. This organization holds a race once every year at Malibu Creek State Park where families join the event to contribute to the cause.
“The biggest part is for families who have someone diagnosed to have support,” Mira Costa sophomore Faye Amato said. “There are so many families who are struggling because a member of their family has been diagnosed so we want to be there to help them.”
The race was created in honor of Nancy “Pants” Amato who was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2006 and passed away in March of 2015. According to Faye Amato, Pancreatic cancer has the highest rate of mortality and once someone is diagnosed they are given little time to live. Nancy was able survive with the disease for 8 years.
“When my Aunt Nancy was diagnosed we didn’t really know what to do,” Faye Amato said. “She was given 6 months to live and we were so grateful that she was able to fight it for so much longer. My cousin started this organization to help her with her fight and to support others going though the same thing.”
Aside from the race, the Amato’s fundraise by baking and selling cakes all over the country. Nancy Amato used to make these cakes and when she passed away her family carried on the tradition. They named these cakes Nancy Cakes in her honor and use all of the proceeds to continue giving back to the families.
“All of the money we raise goes into running the organizations and giving to the families,” Patrick Amato said. “We want to be able to provide joy for the families through various activities and helping with costs here and there.”
The Amato family spends their free time running the Pants Off Racing organization and planning numerous fundraising events. Aside from the race, they also have bingo nights and stand up comedy shows to bring in donations for the families they are helping.
“So many people come together for these events,” Graham Amato said. “It is all very fulfilling and it never feels like we are working because we are constantly enjoying everything we are doing.”
People are able to sign up for the race by going to the Pants Off Racing website and can donate to the cause. All proceeds contribute toward the Amato’s relieving any stress, financially and emotionally, of the families.
“When a family member is diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer it is very demanding and stressful,” Faye Amato said. “We try to relieve some stress by providing the children with gifts for Christmas, taking them out for the day, or supporting the family in whatever way is needed.”
Pants off Racing has started to not only help Pancreatic Cancer patients, but people with other serious illnesses as well such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Eventually, the Amato’s would like to expand to help even more of those families struggling with life-threatening diseases by attracting more people to their events.
“The people involved in Pants off Racing have so much passion for and have become so involved in what we are doing,” Patrick Amato said. “I hope to continue to raise people’s spirits by reaching out to them and letting them know they are not alone in this situation.”
Leave a Reply