Jeanenne Thompson grew up surrounded by animals, especially dogs. She turned that love into a successful career as a professional handler, guiding nine Dobermans to the Top Twenty. Her own dog, Maggie, is now being campaigned, and she is currently in the Top Twenty as well.

On June 15, 2004, Jeanenne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began the fight of her life! She had always been inspired by Lance Armstrong and was particularly so now. Her goal was to show Lexi (pictured on our home page) at the Doberman National in October, 2004 and she did...and to her amazement she went Best of Breed over 144 Specials. It was the highlight of her life and her career.

We thought Jeanenne might be one of the 3 per cent who survive pancreatic cancer, but she lost that battle on February 15, 2005. A light dimmed in the Doberman world as it did in her friends' and family's worlds....a greatly respected and admired woman was lost.

To honor Jeanenne's life and her valiant fight against this disease, her family and friends vowed to do something to raise money for more research.

And so, on June 3, 2006 in Nashville, Illinois (where Jeanenne lived for twenty years and first got into Dobermans), our first annual 3.1-mile fundraising walk was held to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. 

Since dogs were Jeanenne's life, she would want everyone to bring their beloved "four-legged babies" to walk as well. This wasn't a race or a timed event, but rather an opportunity for walkers and their dogs to enjoy a great day in aid of an important cause.

• Pancreatic cancer is the most formidable of all cancers.
   
• Its mortality rate is far out of proportion to its frequency of occurrence.
   
• The disease is often far advanced by the time it is diagnosed.
   
• The five-year survival rate is only about 3 per cent.
   
• Doctors are woefully underpowered in treatment options against it. 
   
• It is the least funded in research of all cancers. 

See panCAN.org for more information.

Please see the April 16, 2008 WSIL TV report and video about the Jeanenne Thompson Foundation and the annual Walk with the Dogs.