Lynchburg, VA (WSET) – NOVEMBER 18, 2025 - ABC 13-WSET is honoring the one-year anniversary of their beloved late anchor Mark Spain on Thursday, December 18^th by encouraging the community to turn the area purple in support of pancreatic cancer awareness.
Last year, so many people joined ABC 13 to show support for Mark, who was diagnosed with Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer, by wearing purple, lighting their buildings purple, and putting up signs of encouragement. Mark, his family, and ABC 13 were blown away by the support. Unfortunately, Mark passed away just three weeks after that diagnosis at just 64-years-old.
Now as we approach the one-year anniversary of his passing, ABC 13 wants to show support to Mark’s family and honor his memory by lighting cities, towns, and counties purple again.
If you feel compelled, ABC 13 asks that you turn lights purple, turn your businesses purple, and wear purple on Thursday, December 18th. If you do, please take photos or videos and send them to https://wset.com/chimein. You can also email them to newsdesk@wset.com so ABC 13 can properly thank you and show the support on air and on social media.
“Mark was a huge part of the ABC 13 – WSET family and we know how beloved he was in this community,” said George Kayes, Vice President and General Manager of ABC 13 -WSET. “We appreciate anyone who is willing to help us paint the town purple in his honor.”
Mark’s smile and positivity were known to his family, the team at WSET, and the thousands across Lynchburg and beyond who welcomed Mark into their homes each night on TV. Mark worked at ABC 13 for a decade, taking home numerous awards for his work.
Mark cared deeply about the Lynchburg community, which was reflected in his words and actions over the years. One of the latest examples of this happened last summer when he helped raise $75,000 for Jubilee Family Development Center with ABC13’s Community Counts program.
Thank you for helping to honor Mark again as we come together to mark one year without him.