DeSean Jackson, Cinnaminson High School Team Up to Fight Pancreatic Cancer

DeSean Jackson may not be an Eagle anymore, but next weekend, he’s teaming up with a local football team for a good cause.

Cinnaminson High School and the DeSean Jackson Foundation will host a “Purple Out” to raise Pancreatic Awareness, according to the foundation.

Jackson, a current wide receiver with the Washington Redskins and former Philadelphia Eagle, started the foundation with his mother, Gayle, in 2009. DeSean Jackson’s father, William “Bill” Jackson, died from Pancreatic Cancer.

“We are so excited to host a ‘Purple Out’ at our home football game with Burlington City, on Oct. 30,” Michele Iaconelli, Cinnaminson High School, English and Psychology teacher, said. “The cheerleaders will be wearing purple bows and the football players will be wearing purple sweat bands on their wrists. In addition, we have purple leis for the band members to wear; and, purple ribbon bandanas to sell to raise donations for Pancreatic Awareness. The Student Council officers will be walking around the stands with purple on also.”

“We lived five minutes from the school for several years while DeSean was a Philadelphia Eagle,” Gayle Jackson said. “The parents and students were are neighbors and friends; and, we launched our first anti-bullying campaign at Cinnaminson High. We are humbled and honored. They know our pain, passion and purpose. They know our hearts.”

Purple Out is a national initiative that was developed by the DeSean Jackson Foundation in partnership with the faculty and students at Andrew G. Schmidt Middle School, Fenton, Michigan that empowers students to be change agents by advocating for Pancreatic Awareness, crucial funding for research; and, petitioning the NFL for an annual Purple Out event.

Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death for both men and women in the United States, and is the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and eighth in women, according to the foundation.

In 2015, 48,960 Americans will be diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and 40,560 will die from this disease. A total of 72 percent of patients will die within the first year of diagnosis. African-Americans have the highest incidence rate of Pancreatic Cancer, between 31 percent and 65 percent higher than the incidence for other racial/ethnic groups.

Pancreatic Cancer is very aggressive; there are no early detection methods; and, there is no cure.

The attached image of DeSean Jackson and Cinnaminson High School students was posted on deseanjacksonfoundation.org.