Together, 1+1=5

Stacia Hart and Michael Sheinkop, Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation

The Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, established by Michael Rolfe’s family following his passing from pancreatic cancer, has expanded from a small, volunteer-run operation to a donor-driven and patient-focused organization with a significant presence in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. “We hold the hand of anyone who calls us, wherever they are with pancreatic cancer. We’ve all been touched by this disease, which is why we’re so committed to, and passionate about, helping others facing this diagnosis,” shared Executive Director Stacia Hart, who lost her own mother to pancreatic cancer.  

In addition to the extensive patient support resources offered, the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation is committed to funding early detection research—and specifically the Lustgarten Foundation’s significant efforts in this area. “We believe Lustgarten is at the forefront of the most ground-breaking early detection discoveries, and we implicitly trust the researchers they support and look to them for their leadership and expertise,” Stacia emphasized. “Thanks to the Lustgarten Foundation, we feel empowered and optimistic that in the future, patients will have very different outcomes after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.”

Recognizing that neither the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation nor the Lustgarten Foundation can fight this disease alone, and respecting the significant role each plays in supporting research and helping patients, the organizations have built a dedicated partnership. Since 2008, they have collaborated on the DASH for Detection, an annual 5K walk/run for pancreatic cancer in Chicago. Each year, the DASH for Detection attracts more than 1,000 participants who are paying tribute to loved ones lost to the disease and honoring those who are survivors or who are currently fighting.

“It’s a truly magical day; the event is like a big, emotional hug, with families and friends gathering together for a moment of hope,” Stacia affirmed. “We believe no one should face pancreatic cancer alone, and we are grateful to our pancreatic cancer community that will come together at the DASH on June 7 to raise awareness. Every dollar matters, even more so now because of the federal funding cuts to research.”

2025-2026 Rolfe Board President Michael Sheinkop couldn’t agree more. “The essence of the DASH for Detection is the community of patients, survivors, caregivers, and loved ones, uniting for a shared purpose under the warm summer sky and welcoming backdrop of Lake Michigan to show their strength and support for each other,” he emphasized. Michael and his wife, Rachel, who have made it their mission to combat pancreatic cancer after Rachel’s mother passed away from the disease, are heavily involved with the DASH for Detection.

Since its inception, the DASH for Detection has contributed nearly $1.2 million to the Lustgarten Foundation’s early detection research program and has evolved from a timed 5K race to a full-fledged family event with activities including crafts, face-painting, an event emcee, live music, and photo opportunities with Staley, the Chicago Bears mascot. While some participants join the timed race, the majority of attendees are families—including a handful who travel from outside the Chicago area—who walk the route along Chicago’s Montrose Harbor, proudly sharing their homemade signs celebrating their loved ones. “Like many other families, the DASH for Detection is my family’s opportunity to gather together to reminisce. It’s a bittersweet moment because my mom passed away before her eight grandchildren were born,” Stacia shared.

Michael views the DASH as a call to action. “While we’ve seen survival rates advance since my dear mother-in-law passed in 2008, it’s not enough. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 13% and is totally unacceptable, which is why we need to make people more aware of the symptoms and their potential risk for this disease,” he believes. “We need researchers to collaborate with each other and more patients to qualify for ablation techniques, targeted cell therapies, immunotherapies, and other trials and treatment developments on the horizon. Lustgarten has helped every step of the way, and with their strong science capabilities and process for vetting research, added to Rolfe’s tailored, hands-on patient approach, I know we’re improving outcomes at a pivotal point in this fight, where together, 1+1=5.”