Team Gar Bear

Naperville Walk

We're fundraising to find a cure for pancreatic cancer and to honor our Gary Benson and all brave victims of this horrible disease. Join us!

This marks our family's 8th year participating in Naperville's Lustgarten's Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research to celebrate the progress that has been made and to power tomorrow's research. Support our team and embrace Lustgarten's vision of transforming pancreatic cancer into a curable disease. Join our team, donate to our team, provide hope to thousands of families touched by this devastating disease.

Why Lustgarten? They are the nation’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research. Thanks to separate funding of administrative expenses, 100% of our fundraising and your donation funds pancreatic cancer research - research led by Lustgarten and powered by you! With your support, we will raise more money for research advancements than we ever could alone.

It was 1803 when the Midwest last saw AND HEARD the deafening whirr of both the XIII & XIX cicada broods!  I find it quite fascinating and even inspirational to witness this phenomenon; their long hibernations, delicate emergence and determined journeys through the mating process.  Some believe broods emerge at the same time, every 17 and 13 years, for their very survival.  No predator could possibly devour the billions and billions of them in one season, thus ensuring their continued survival!

In the seven and a half years since Gary lost his brave battle against pancreatic cancer, our family has mourned additional family and friends rocked by this disease.  They include my daughter’s mother-in-law, Janice Noffsinger; a friend, Beth Repke; and my book club friend’s husband, Claude Urbaniak.  Like Gary, by the time they were diagnosed, treatment options were limited, and they passed within a very short period of time.

Let’s change this story.  Together.

What an idea these ancient cicadas have!  Survival achieved by EVERYONE pitching in!  Let’s do the same and help end the devastation of pancreatic cancer.  Your support of funding critical research IS making a difference!  Though not as fast as we would like it to, survival rates are improving, increased awareness and testing is aiding earlier detection, and more targeted research is showing promising results.

Our family thanks you for your support all these past years and appreciates your continued support both emotionally and financially. 

Let’s vow to have quadrupled survival rates by the time the next brood of cicada’s emerge in 13 or 17 years.  Together this IS possible!

Sally Benson and Family

Our Achievements

Top 10 Team

Top 3 Team

Received 15 Donations

Raised $500

Raised $1000

Reached Goal

Thank you to our Donors

$7.5k

Tom & Cathy Edwards

$3.02k

Sally Benson

$1.02k

Anonymous

$420

Lauren Sixsmith

$264

Kristen Larson

$264

Tom And Desiree Connors

$264

Michael & Janet Perry

$264

Christine Birck

$264

Bill Kelly

$264

Peter Larson

$250

Judy And Leslie Klemperer

$211

Beth And Jim Ashley

We will continue to fight for Gary and all of our friends and family that this horrible disease has touched.

$211

Pam Dennison

$211

Sheila Champa

$209

Dennis & Beth Riordan

We get back from Ireland on this day, so we can't join the walk but will be donating.

$200

Steven And Jean Benson

$158

Greg And Sara Jursich

$108

Patricia Schaffer

$107

Chris & Kathy Comperchio

Always in our hearts and prayers and remembering our great friend Gary! We love you Gar!

$106

Sarah Benson

$106

John And Dolores Potterton

$106

Patricia Niziolek

$106

Dan Jarvie

Go Gar Bear Team!

$106

Beth Degeeter

$106

Brad & Nancy Springer

Sending our love and support!

$106

Shipley Family

$106

Carolyn Vallar

$106

Daniel, Stephanie, And Olivia Tatar

Wish we were in town to be there. Your dedication to this cause and your ability to rally support year after year is truly inspiring, Sally. The impact you've made through your tireless efforts is a beautiful tribute to Gary’s legacy.

$106

Jackie

Sally, I wish I could be at the walk this year but instead a donation will have to do. In honor of Gary. -Jackie

$106

John Suzukida

$106

Nancy Naxera And Middleton Boys!

We miss you Uncle Gary and hope to help find a cure! Love Nancy and the boys!

$106

Etta & Mike Barry

$106

Thomas Chlebek

$106

Linda And Steve Mueller

$106

Elaine Anderson

$106

Cindy And Greg Mcclain

Gary is forever in our hearts. Thank you for all you continue to do in his name. Love, love, love

$106

Jed And Paula Eide

Sally, I sure wish we could be there for the walk and barbecue. But we will be in Colorado with our kids visiting. We will be thinking of you! Love you, Paula

$106

Pinnella Family

$106

Carol

So sorry we cannot join you this year. Gary is forever in our hearts.

$106

Kim Zlimen

$105

Maureen Dvorak

$105

Robert Schaffer

$105

Stacie Quigg

$105

Carrie Vallar

$105

Ken And Judy Koziol

$105

Marcia Schaub

$105

Ed And Donna Sagen

$105

Bill And Deborah Rickert

Sending love ❤️

$100

Ruth Craig

$100

Eugene Smithart

Love You Sally!! Lana amd Smitty

$100

Brandt Family

In memory of one of the best men I ever met !

$100

Tom & Nanci Welte

$79

Barbara & Jim Fett

$79

Anonymous

$79

Joni Anderson

$79

Dee Dee Porter

$76

Deborah Dell

$54

Jimmy Dennison

$53

Gail & Steve Butera

Always in our hearts.

$53

Nikki Dennison

$53

Michael & Lauren Calderaro

Great cause and terrific work Sally!

$53

Vivian Baldwin

$53

Christine Schulz

$53

Kevin & Kathy Cavanagh

$53

Chris Verano

$53

Stacie Piatt Vaughn

$53

Nancy Baird

I still miss him

$53

Leslie Urbaniak

Joining the fight to end pancreatic cancer in honor of my husband Claude and Gary Benson.

$53

Mary Anne Dambrosio

Always remembering Gary and hope a cure is found

$51

Mike & Sharon Butz

$51

Karin Vaughn

$50

Elaine Mitchner

$50

Jim Hoofnagle

$50

Anonymous

$42

Connie Messinger

$26

Sarah Degeeter

$26

Maryanne Heyman

$26

Bob & Debbie Corbin

$26

Larry And Colleen Saur

Thinking of you and your beautiful family.

$26

Joyce & Brad Shelton

Keep up the fight.