Patrick Swayze got my heart pumping in Dirty Dancing in 1987, my heart racing in the action drama Road House in 1989, and broke my heart in the Oscar nominated movie Ghost in 1990. 

He passed away earlier today at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer.  Everyone who knew him called him an all-around great guy and I think the country, in their own way, suffered with him since his diagnosis in early 2008.  He has been fighting this ugly form of cancer for all of the last 20 months.  He didn’t give up and we didn’t give up on him.  He struggled through his new drama series on A&E, The Beast, for 13 episodes in 2009, and garnered a viewership of 1.3 million folks.  I know he had a big following here in Madison.  I am just one of his fans (one of his biggest I like to think!) 

On the 3rd of September I posted about a foundation called Stand Up To Cancer on this same site.  Patrick actually opened a special on television a year ago introducing this organization.  That special was carried on all the local channels here.  Now more than ever that organization needs our support.  Donate what you can!  Patrick did a lot to bring attention to the particularily deadly pancreatic cancer.  I hope we see a cure come from his hard work (and so many others) in our lifetime.  

My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife (Lisa Niemi) and the rest of his family.   

Here is a quick link to the television special that was on a year ago September 5th.

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