Inspired by his late wife’s battle with pancreatic cancer, a Lincoln man has created a $58,000 endowment through the University of Nebraska Foundation to be used for pancreatic cancer research.
The endowment was established by Jerry Varner, a part-time professor and alumnus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Varner’s wife, Carolynn “Carrie,” died last April. In October, the couple would have been married 50 years.
Carrie Varner was treated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She underwent a complex surgery known as the “Whipple” procedure. The surgery was performed by Chandra Are, M.D., a surgical oncologist at UNMC and one of the few surgeons in the state trained in the Whipple procedure.
Dr. Are was a source of comfort to the Varners during Carrie’s illness. After Varner received about $8,000 in memorials for his wife from friends and family members, he decided to donate $50,000 to establish a start-up fund for the endowment.
Varner said his passion in life is to be an active participant in the search to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.
“If we can figure out a way to treat, cure, extend peoples’ lives… that’s what I want,” Varner said. “When you hear ‘pancreatic cancer,’ it’s a death sentence. I want to make life better for people. I hope a loved one never has to hear ‘You’ve got pancreatic cancer and have months to live.’ It’s the worst of the worst.”.
Pancreatic cancer is arguably the most lethal type of cancer. Of the estimated 32,000 Americans annually who discover they have pancreatic cancer, more than 95 percent will die within a few months or years of diagnosis. In the United States, pancreatic cancer is the ninth or 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer (depending on gender), but the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women.
There are no screening tools for pancreatic cancer and the location of the pancreas, deep in the abdomen, hinders early diagnosis. Too often, diagnosis occurs after the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Dr. Are said the endowment will be extremely useful in supporting research activities in cancer. UNMC has one of the top pancreatic cancer research programs in the country. In 2008, UNMC was one of only two centers in the country to receive a five-year, $5.3 million Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute.
“It is remarkable that in a time of such profound grief that Jerry has the fortitude to come up with the idea of a fund in his wife’s name,” Dr. Are said. “This will not only memorialize Carrie’s name but I hope will provide a renewed purpose to Jerry’s life.”
“Carrie left a very large footprint,” Varner said. “She will be missed by many people. I want the fund to be a living memorial to her.”
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that has been raising private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for more than 70 years. Last year almost $90 million was provided for students, faculty, academic programs, research and campus capital improvements. More information is available at www.nufoundation.org.
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