JUNE 15, 2021 - On Monday, Star Trek actors Armin Shimerman, Kitty Swink, and Jonathan Frakes hosted the Voices in Action inaugural event, launching the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s (PanCAN) Action Week 2021. The virtual event was free to stream and featured moving stories from families and individuals affected by pancreatic cancer, encouraging viewers to reach out to Congress for their support in researching the disease.

Kitty Swink and her husband Armin Shimerman opened the event with their story of Swink’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Happily, she and her husband recently celebrated 17 years of Swink being cancer-free. Now, the couple want to give back. Swink said during the event, “As a survivor [of pancreatic cancer], I feel it’s my responsibility to advocate for all those who are fighting this disease, and all of those we’ve lost.”

The pair were followed by inspirational stories of hope and perseverance in the face of pancreatic cancer, told by those affected by the disease. That segment preceded a brief Q&A with Delaware senator Chris Coons, an outspoken advocate for pancreatic cancer patients and families.

Frakes joined the event later on, sharing a very personal story. “Twenty-four years ago, I lost my best friend, my brother Daniel, to this disease,” he said. “I personally understand the pain and the fear that a pancreatic cancer diagnosis brings on a family and their loved ones. That’s why I’m standing here tonight [...] As a community, we are stronger together. No one should go through this alone. And while this disease is a terrible diagnosis, there is always hope, and we are making progress.”

This isn’t the first time Swink, Shimerman and Frakes have teamed up. The trio led the fundraising team “Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer” earlier this year during PanCAN’s PurpleStride Los Angeles virtual event. To find out more about how you can get involved with PanCAN’s Action Week 2021 and to see the full Voices in Action virtual event, visit pancan.org or check out PanCAN’s channel on YouTube.