I had a special request this week from Michele, a volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to run mile 6 of today’s race for her father Victor Potvin.

He was her biggest cheerleader. Just like my Dad. How could I resist? Michele mentioned 6 has a lot of meaning for her family Her birthday is 6/6, her son was born on the 6th, her father died on the 6th, and 6 has always been her lucky number. So being in that tomorrow is the 6th, we dedicate mile 6 to a very special man.

Victor passed away on January 6th, 2007 after a 6 month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68, in the first few years of retirement and loving life. He and his wife had been married for 48 years, and had just bought his dream home in FL for the winters, so he could play golf year round.

He was never sick a day in his life, so when he was diagnosed with pc, it was completely out of the blue. When he passed away, Michele was pregnant with her son Logan, who was to be his first grandchild.

Victor was the coach on Michele’s basketball team, played hoops in the driveway with her and her sister and endured many rounds of tennis helping her perfect the sport in high school, though she is not sure he was ever a fan of the sport 🙂 . What a guy! He always gave everyone a chance – he believed in the good in most people.

After he died, Michele’s sister and mother got so many cards from people they had never met, or not heard from in years with wonderful stories about their memories of her father. He is missed dearly by all every day. It’s in his memory that she volunteers with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Michele- Mile 6, is for all of you. You, Your Dad, your mother and your sister. I will smile and remember a man who saw the good in everyone he met, with a heart of gold and let him be a shining light of an example for all of us to do the same. What an honor. By the way, I was told that in numerology, this is a number 6 year. It can be the best of years if we are willing to be responsible for our actions. Let’s express integrity in everything we do, like Victor did. 🙂

Also, Thank you for contacting me in our quest to put an end to pancreatic cancer once and for all.

All the best. We got this and we did it!!!!

With love,

Julie