The impulse for the Drive For The Marker ^sm campaign is related to the deaths due to pancreatic cancer of Ely Callaway (2001, age 82), CEO and Founder of Callaway Golf Company, John Chadwell (2002, age 52), President of Pebble Beach Company and Gary Lorenzen (2000, age 45), Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

Drive For The Marker ^sm is an initiative of the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization. The Chairman of the Foundation is Lee Lorenzen. The Director of Information Services for Drive For the Marker.org is Dale O'Brien, MD, MPH.

Pancreatic cancer is the least funded of any of the main cancer killers even though it has the most aggressive nature -- for example, receiving about 10% of the funding of breast cancer (by the U.S. National Cancer Institute) per fatality.

This is further accentuated by the lack of funding and studies oriented to the earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Less than 5% of published medical articles about pancreatic cancer are about finding a method to aid in the earlier diagnosis of this disease. And there currently exists no biochemical, molecular, or genetic screening tool for pancreas cancer such as the PSA test for prostate cancer.

The natural history of pancreatic cancer could be significantly altered for the better if it could be diagnosed at an earlier stage. Treatment options would radically open up. And its mortality profile would greatly improve.

Our primary long-term aim is to direct resources toward this vulnerability of pancreatic cancer -- toward its earlier diagnosis.

The Drive For The Marker ^sm initiative is about fostering an intelligent and directed effort aimed at forever changing the tragic human relationship to this disease.

Please join us. Consider making a donation or otherwise participating.

Thank you.