Why I Wear Purple: Brandon’s Story
Story
In Memory
Caregivers/Families
Signs & Symptoms
Awareness & Advocacy
There are voices in the healthcare system we rarely hear from, those working behind the scenes, shoulder to shoulder with people impacted by some of the most challenging diseases of our time. This November, for World Pancreatic Cancer Month, we’re sharing those perspectives as a way to show real insight, grit and care. This is Brandon’s story.
For most of her career, Marie has walked beside people in their most fragile moments. As an intensive care nurse, she’s spent over 16 years caring for patients when things are uncertain, often critical, always personal. It’s a role she chose for the privilege of being there, for both patients and their families, when they need the dependable support.
“I love the variety of work, but most of all, I’m passionate about caring for people during their most vulnerable and frightening times and supporting their families. Health is something we should never take for granted.”
Marie and her colleagues wearing purple for pancreatic cancer
When the diagnosis is personal
In 2020 Marie's mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just as the world shut down for COVID-19. Suddenly, she wasn’t just a healthcare worker, she became a full-time carer, a medical advocate, a daughter navigating a deeply complex and unpredictable chapter of her life.
My sister and I cared for her over the next 17 months, which included an intense chemotherapy regimen, surgery with postoperative complications requiring a 5-week hospital stay and more chemotherapy
- Marie
Marie with her mum on the beach
The reality few talk about
Professionally, Marie had seen the stark reality of pancreatic cancer before. But living through it changed how she understood the disease, and how misunderstood it still is.
From both my professional knowledge and personal loss, I understood pancreatic cancer as an aggressive disease with very poor prognosis, underscoring its devastating emotional and physical toll on patients and families.
- Marie
Marie with her mum on holidays
Purple with purpose
Each November, Marie leads the charge at her hospital to raise awareness. She’s the one sourcing purple scrubs, rallying colleagues, and creating space for conversations about a disease that rarely gets airtime. For her, wearing purple is a uniform for critical action.
Purple represents pancreatic cancer awareness and wearing these scrubs is my way to spark conversations, show solidarity with those affected and encourage others in healthcare to join the cause during November
- Marie
Marie and her colleagues for Wear It Purple Day 2025
Showing up, again and again
Marie’s connection to Pankind began in the early days of her mum’s diagnosis, when she and her sister were searching for trusted information and resources about the disease. Since then, they’ve stepped up to take part in just about every opportunity to make a difference.
“I’ve actively participated in events, including Remember September 2020 with my sister (we cut out sugar completely!) when our mum had just been diagnosed, 63 squats a day in May, two more Remember Septembers and four Put Your Foot Down Newcastle walks”
Most recently, Marie took on the role of Walk Coordinator for the Newcastle Put Your Foot Down walk, channeling her energy into an event that not only raises vital funds for pancreatic cancer research, but brings the community together to be part of something bigger.
This November we need to break the silence, together
This World Pancreatic Cancer Month, her message is one of visibility.
Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer that devastates too many families, we must demand more research funding, push for early detection breakthroughs and break the silence through relentless awareness. I encourage everyone to wear purple, share your stories on social media with #pankind, donate to vital organisations like Pankind and join events like walks or challenges to amplify voices, fund progress and support those impacted by this disease.
- Marie
Marie and her team of volunteers at the PYFD Newcastle walk
