A northwest Iowa woman whose father died of pancreatic cancer last summer will leave next week on a hike across the state to raise awareness about the affliction and to raise money for research. Jody Moats lives in Akron and works in South Dakota as a naturalist. On Friday (September 1st), she’ll leave Sioux City on a planned 18-day walk to Dubuque.
Moats says she wanted to do something that would have impact and draw attention to pancreatic cancer. Moats’ father, Darwin Hartnett of Webster City, died in July last year. She came up with the idea of a walk across Iowa earlier this year, in March, on her late father’s birthday. A good friend also lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer so Moats says they decided to make the long hike together. She walks as part of her job and decided to walk across the state. Moats says money raised will go toward two organizations.
Pan-Can — the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is an advocacy group that focuses attention on the need to find a cure, along with the June E-Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City. For more information: surf to “www.hikeiowaforhope.com”.