YAZOO CITY, Miss. – The Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Foundation will host the Walk for Ben on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Wardell Leach Recreation Park in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Which is known as “the Gateway to the Mississippi Delta.” This community Walk-A-Thon will raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Project Purple — a national nonprofit dedicated to a world without pancreatic cancer.
The event runs from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and includes complimentary refreshments, free health and wellness checks, and event T-shirts for all registered participants with a $25 minimum donation. The walk is named in memory of Benjamin Felder, a beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather whose life was cut short by pancreatic cancer.
Participants can register online at bit.ly/walkforben25.
“Ben was a beloved native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, and proud son of the late Clarence and Mary Lee Howard,” said Ulysses ‘Jack’ Howard, the Chairman of The Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Foundation and Ben’s brother.
“Ben graduated from Yazoo City High School in 1978, served our country honorably as a veteran of the U.S. Army, and went on to excel as a professional technician and business owner in the telecommunications and construction industries. He was making a tremendous impact on his local community at the time of his diagnosis.”
“He was also a founding member of The Clarence & Mary Howard Foundation’s Board of Directors,” Chairman Howard stated. “Ben passed away on February 26, 2024, while he was surrounded by loved ones following a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer.”
The Mississippi Delta, which includes Yazoo City, is one of the hardest-hit regions in the country when it comes to cancer. A recent study using data from the National Center for Health Statistics found that cancer death rates in the Delta Region are higher than national averages across all cancer types. Pancreatic cancer, already one of the deadliest forms with a 13% survival rate, often goes undetected until advanced stages, making early detection and research even more critical.
Proceeds from the event will support Project Purple, a leading pancreatic cancer nonprofit that has invested over $4 million in cutting-edge research, including early detection programs like Hartford HealthCare’s High-Risk Pancreatic Cancer Program (HRPCP). As the first program dedicated to addressing the early detection of pancreatic cancer in the state of Connecticut, Hartford HealthCare’s ability to serve communities facing disparities was a major factor in the decision to select them for this grant, according to a release from Project Purple.
“Project Purple is proud to partner with The Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Foundation. Their dedication to making an impact in the fight against pancreatic cancer is truly commendable,” said Dino Verrelli, CEO of Project Purple. “Walk for Ben is not only a tribute to a life lost too soon, it’s a rallying cry for hope, research, and equity in cancer care.”
Event Details
What: Walk for Ben – A Pancreatic Cancer Awareness 5K
When: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Wardell Leach Recreation Park, 500 W. 15th St., Yazoo City, MS 39194
Registration: bit.ly/walkforben25
Contact: Ulysses ‘Jack’ Howard at 757-717-0349, or by email at jack@clarenceandmaryhowardfoundation.org
For more information or to donate, visit clarenceandmaryhowardfoundation.org/events-news.
About The Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Foundation
The Clarence & Mary Howard Foundation, which is named in honor of the late Clarence and Mary Lee Howard of Yazoo City, Mississippi, is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on giving back to underserved communities in the impoverished Delta region of Mississippi.
Visit ClarenceAndMaryHowardFoundation.org to learn more.
About Project Purple
Founded in 2010, Project Purple is dedicated to a world without pancreatic cancer and improving the care and outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients. It has funded over $4 million in research, largely focusing on early detection initiatives such as PRECEDE, the world’s largest high-risk consortium for genetic mutations linked to pancreatic cancer.
Other research grants include foundational funding for Hartford HealthCare’s High Risk Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program, several studies with Duke University School of Medicine, and many more groundbreaking initiatives.
The organization has also granted over $1.3 million to patient aid programs, helping more than 1,500 families focus on the fight against pancreatic cancer. For more information, go to www.ProjectPurple.org.
Media Contact
Kristina Desimini, 5K Program Manager
Kristina@projectpurple.org
203-714-6052