Butch Walker has teamed up with the Nikki Mitchell Foundation to launch the Autumn Leaves Project in order to help fight pancreatic cancer.

The Autumn Leaves Project was founded in honor of Walker's father, Butch Walker Sr. The new charity will partner with the Nikki Mitchell Foundation to work toward finding a cure for pancreatic cancer and supporting those affected by the disease.

“Pancreatic cancer doesn’t give you a chance to reconcile with it, doesn’t let you make plans sometimes, or prepare for the ending; it just usually sneaks up on you and gives you no warning until it's too late," Walker says. "We need better programs for pre-screening, we need more affordable alternatives to the methods and drugs that are out there to cope once it's diagnosed, and, most importantly, we’ve got to find a cure for it ... It’s time for us to deal with it."

The Nikki Mitchell Foundation is named after and was established in honor of Nikki Mitchell, a long-time country music manager and friend of Waylon Jennings. The organization is specifically focused on helping musicians and artists battling the disease who are lacking access to good healthcare. Many country stars have supported the mission, including Keith Urban, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter and more.

“Nikki was larger than life, and she lived every day making those around her feel like nothing is impossible," foundation president Rhonda Miles says. "We carry that legacy into our mission at NMF by fighting for the cure to the disease that has affected so many in and out of the music industry."

More information about the Nikki Mitchell Foundation and the Autumn Leaves Project can be found at AutumnLeavesProject.org.

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