Son’s Fundraiser Following Father’s Death to Pancreatic Cancer to Fund Area Nonprofit

 Memphis, Tenn., September 19, 2017 – The Second Annual Will James Extravaganza fundraiser will benefit the Kosten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Support and will take place October 1, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 4.p.m. at All About Bikes on 621 S. Mendenhall Road in Memphis, Tennessee. The Will James Extravaganza is free to attend and will include an all-ages bike ride, a bounce house, silent auction, and food and refreshments. The Will James Extravaganza was created by Tommy James to honor his father who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2015 and to raise funds to help find a cure for the deadly disease.

“We all know someone who has had some form of cancer,” says Tommy James, “My dad, my hero, my best friend passed away on October 1, 2015, from this awful disease. This event is my way of paying tribute to his memory. I hope everyone will come out to the Will James Extravaganza on October 1 at All About Bikes and help us support this cause, and help continue the legacy of the greatest man I’ve ever met, my dad.”

The Will James Extravaganza will include a very easy and quick all-ages bike ride to kick off the day followed up by many fun activities, including a bounce house for the kids, silent auction, and plenty of food and refreshments. Guests will be able to purchase delicious chili and drinks and MemPops will be on hand to provide a selection of sweet desserts.

Proceeds from the silent auction, T-shirt sales, MemPops and chili sales, as well product sales at All About Bikes on Saturday, September 30, as well as Sunday, October 1, will be donated to the Kosten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Support.

“We are incredibly thankful to Tommy and the team at All About Bikes for including us in this year’s event,” says Alan Kosten, Chairman of the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Charitable Fund. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to finding a cure for this terrible disease and support from events like this helps greatly.”

When: Sunday, October 1, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: All About Bikes, 621 S. Mendenhall Road, Memphis, TN 38117

All About Bikes can be found online at:

http://allaboutbikesllc.com/

The Kosten Foundation can be found online at:

http://www.kostenfoundation.com

http://www.facebook.com/kosten-foundation

http://www.twitter.com/kostenfdn

About Pancreatic Cancer:

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose, mainly because there are no “definitive” symptoms, but also because standard tests often return negative results. Patients often comment on experiencing a variety of symptoms prior to diagnoses, including unintended weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, back or belly pain, fatigue and jaundice. According to the American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates:

• About 53,670 people (27,970 men and 25,700 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.
• About 43,090 people (22,300 men and 20,790 women) will die of pancreatic cancer this year.
• Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the US and about 7% of all cancer deaths.
• The average lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer for both men and women is about 1 in 65 (1.5%).

About the Kosten Foundation:

The Kosten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research was founded in 2003 by the family of Herb Kosten after his death due to pancreatic cancer. Kosten’s family sought to improve community support, awareness, and funding for pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest known cancers. The organization has raised over $1,000,000 for pancreatic cancer research and hosts a very active monthly support group meeting for patients, their families, and anyone interested in learning more about pancreatic cancer. In 2004, in honor of Kosten’s love of tennis, the Memphis-based organization began hosting annual tennis tournaments to raise money to fight pancreatic cancer and in 2011 the group held its first Kick It 5K run/walk. The annual signature event has grown to include more than 2,000 participants. Money raised from the Kick It 5K and other Kosten Foundation events helps fund pancreatic cancer research and support fellowship training for future pancreatic cancer surgeons at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. In addition, the Foundation presents a yearly symposium headlined by nationally recognized leaders in the field of pancreatic cancer. For more information about the Kosten Foundation, its programs, and events, visit the website at kostenfoundation.com.