Lisa Swayze Says Patrick’s Cancer Diagnosis Was ‘a Nail in My Own Coffin’ [Video]

Lisa Niemi Swayze is turning grief into action. 

The classically trained dancer, 67, who was married to Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze from 1975 until his death at the age of 57, has teamed up with leading non profit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the disease and increase funding for research. 

“My connection with PanCAN is because it’s in honor of Patrick, because I want to finish the fight that he fought so hard for, fought so hard to win. And just because he is gone, it doesn’t mean it’s over, and I want to keep it going for him,” Lisa tells PEOPLE exclusively. 

The organization is currently gearing up for their PurpleStride event to end pancreatic cancer on April 27. The walk will …