Jason (’22), Alison and Tyler (’17) Gentile.

For nearly five years, alumnus Tyler Gentile ’17 and sophomore Jason Gentile ’22 have been raising money to assist in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Recently, they were featured, along with their sister Alison, in The Monmouth Journal. Read an excerpt below.

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This year, under the leadership of Jason, the three of them were able to raise over $8,200 for the 2019 PurpleStride New Jersey fundraiser. All together, they have raised over $28,900 for the fight against this deadly disease.

Why get involved?

That is a question Tyler, 20, a Lincroft resident who is a junior at Georgetown University, asked himself before getting involved with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. As he started thinking more and more about his future and what career path he wanted to pursue, he kept coming back to wanting to help people.

In 2015, he joined the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and has not looked back. Three years ago he teamed up with his sister, Alison, who is currently a freshman at Providence College. Two years ago, they decided to make it a family affair and invited their younger brother, Jason, who is sophomore at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, to participate in this worthy cause. While no longer able to be at the PurpleStride New Jersey fundraiser due to his college schedule, Tyler has taken on a more senior role working with PanCan in Washington, D.C. where he helps plan and run various fundraising and awareness events.

Through fundraising efforts and reaching out to corporate executives, Tyler, Ali and Jay were able to exceed their goal and raise over $8,200. In addition to the money raised, Jason and a small group attended the PurpleStride New Jersey event that was held on Nov. 10.

This family effort to raise money for pancreatic cancer started in 2009 when their grandmother, or as they liked to call her, “Uma,” was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At the young age of 67, she lost a short-lived battle with this deadly disease.

“This year we decided to celebrate our fifth year of participating in the PurpleStride New Jersey with team Cardinal shirts as a way to celebrate our Uma,” Jay said. “Being able to honor our Uma’s memory and help others is something that continues to push us to do more and more each year,” according to Jason.

“While my college schedule prevented me from participating in the New Jersey event, I have been looking for ways to bring awareness about Pancreatic Cancer to my college campus,” Alison said.

Tyler added, “Volunteering has become a constant part of my college life and being part of a national organization like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has helped me stay involved with a cause that is close to my heart.”

PurpleStride is the signature event of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Each year, in communities across the country, tens of thousands of people participate in more than 56 PurpleStride events, including PurpleStride New Jersey. These events are critical in raising awareness and funds that advance research and support patients and loved ones with a promise of a better tomorrow.