Steps for a Cure: Walkway Over the Hudson

Join us on Saturday, August 29th 2026 at the Hudson Valley Rail Trail (Haviland Rd Entrance) as we come together for Project Purple Steps for a Cure: Walkway Over the Hudson 2-Mile Pancreatic Cancer Walk, a meaningful day of remembrance, community, and impact in honor of Darlene Plavchak.

Darlene was a beloved member of the Highland community whose life was defined by kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to others. A dedicated teacher, mentor, mother, grandmother, and friend, Darlene had a rare ability to make every person she encountered feel seen, valued, and loved. She spent her life shaping young minds in the classroom and uplifting those around her through her generosity, warmth, and deep sense of community. Whether through her years of teaching, volunteering, or simply showing up for those she cared about, Darlene made Highland a better, more beautiful place, both in spirit and in action.

Her journey with pancreatic cancer began in 2018, after months of persistent symptoms and uncertainty. In 2019, she was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and given just three months to live. But Darlene refused to let that prognosis define her. With incredible strength and resilience, she chose to focus not on the time she was given, but on how she would live it, continuing to find joy in each day, leaning on her support system, and inspiring others with her outlook.

“I challenge myself to look forward, not back, to be positive and to find joy in each day,” Darlene shared. That mindset carried her through her journey and became a source of strength not only for herself, but for countless others facing similar battles. Even during her most difficult days, Darlene continued to support others, taking calls from newly diagnosed patients, offering guidance, and reminding everyone around her to never give up hope.

In recognition of her courage and the impact she made, Darlene was inducted into the Project Purple Hall of Fame in 2023. She used her voice and her story to advocate for greater awareness, early detection, and hope within the pancreatic cancer community, always believing that sharing her journey could help someone else keep moving forward.

To those who knew her best, Darlene was “simply the best,” a woman with a giving spirit, a servant’s heart, and a love for her family and community that knew no bounds. She believed deeply in finding the positive in every situation, a lesson she passed on to everyone around her. Even in her final days, she held onto hope, continuing to dream of future memories with her family.

While Darlene has since passed, her legacy lives on through the lives she touched and the community she helped build. This walk is more than just an event, it is a tribute to her life, her strength, and the values she embodied every single day.

By participating in Steps for a Cure, you are honoring Darlene’s memory and helping to carry forward her mission to bring hope to others, support patients and families facing pancreatic cancer, and fund critical research for early detection and a cure.

Together, we walk for Darlene.
Together, we walk for a world without pancreatic cancer.