45°
Cadden and her group will walk in Lustgarten Foundation’s third annual New York City Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk. The event is supported by Cablevision, and 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to pancreatic cancer research. Readers can support Cadden through her online fundraising page.
Friends and family from New Hampshire, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., will join the walk. Cadden, her mother and two sisters made plans to attend the event before Stirling died because it was close to his birthday, April 7.
“It wasn’t a hard decision at the time, but as it gets closer, it’s more emotional,” Cadden said. “It’s kind of neat for the family to get together close to his birthday.”
Stirling, who lived in Redding, fought cancer for 2½ years. “He was a Marine, so he applied everything he learned there in this battle,’’ Cadden said. “He hung on as long as he did because he was trying to stick around with his family. He wanted to make sure everything was all set and lined up for my mom. I don’t think there was a day he was without pain for those 2½ years. He did everything he could to beat this thing.”
Cadden’s team is not only remembering her father. She also wants to raise awareness for a disease that is labeled “the silent killer” because its symptoms do not present until it is too late.
“We’re hoping that other people don’t have to go through this,’’ said Cadden, a frequent photographer at Norwalk High School athletic events. “We’re hoping they find a cure for this quickly. Early detection is also important. So much about this disease is raising awareness.”
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
