Upshur County proclaims Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month as Sam’s Pizza raises more than $1,000 for research

BUCKHANNON – Sam’s Pizza Day, the restaurant’s Nov. 1 fundraiser for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), raised $1,105 for pancreatic cancer research.

Annette Fetty-Santilli, community advocate for West Virginia with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, attended the Thursday, Nov. 5 Upshur County Commission meeting, where the commission proclaimed November Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month to help raise awareness about the disease.

“My brother was 36 when he was diagnosed and 38 when he passed away. It’s been 19 years, if you can believe that,” Fetty-Santilli said. “When my brother was diagnosed, the five-year survival rate was just 5%. It’s up to 13% because of all the research that’s been done, but we need to do better.”

Sam Nolte, an Upshur County commissioner and the owner of Sam’s Pizza, said the restaurant donated a portion of each order it received Nov. 1 to pancreatic cancer research.

“We raised about $550, and then I matched what the customers contributed to all their orders, so we have a check here from Sam’s Pizza for $1,105,” Nolte said.

Nolte holds the fundraiser on the birthday of his father, Bob Nolte, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2015 at age 68. This year’s Sam’s Pizza Day was the fourth for the event.

The Proclamation

WHEREAS, in 2026, an estimated 67,530 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, which equates to 185 people every single day. It’s also estimated that 52,740 people across the United States will die this year alone; and

WHEREAS, pancreatic cancer is the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, yet is the 3rd most common cause of cancer-related deaths; and

WHEREAS, when symptoms of pancreatic cancer present themselves, it is generally in later stages, and 73 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year of their diagnosis, while 87 percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first five years, and

WHEREAS, approximately 350 deaths will occur in West Virginia in 2026, including Upshur County; and

WHEREAS, pancreatic cancer may cause only vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions within the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include pain (usually abdominal or back pain), weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, nausea, changes in stool, and recent-onset diabetes, and

WHEREAS, the location of the pancreas, deep in the abdominal cavity, is a factor hindering early detection of pancreatic cancer. There are complex biological features of a pancreatic tumor that distinguish it from many other cancer types and each patient’s pancreatic tumor biology and genetic makeup are slightly different. Patients who are treated based on their biology can live longer, and

WHEREAS, the good health and well-being of the residents of Upshur County, West Virginia are enhanced as a direct result of increased awareness about the symptoms and risk factors of pancreatic cancer, and research into early detection, causes, and effective treatments; and

WHEREAS, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to honor those who have lost their lives to pancreatic cancer, support those currently facing the disease, recognize survivors, and encourage greater public awareness and support for research and patient resources; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Upshur County, West Virginia are encouraged to learn more about pancreatic cancer, support those affected by the disease, and participate in efforts that promote awareness, education, research, and hope;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Upshur County Commission, on behalf of the citizens of Upshur County, West Virginia, hereby proclaims November 2026 as “PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” in Upshur County, West Virginia and encourages all citizens to join in raising awareness and supporting the fight against pancreatic cancer.