Newswise — LOS ANGELES (Oct. 21, 2013) – Although participants already are warming up for the ninth annual Run for Her® 5K Run and Friendship Walk in Los Angeles and the inaugural New York Run for Her event, there is still time to register.
Run for Her supports the Women’s Cancer Program at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. Survivors and supporters like Amanda Marz have a clear message: participants can change the landscape of ovarian cancer research and treatment by joining the event.
Marz, an attorney from Encino, Calif., and captain of Team Kent Family, plans to participate in the Los Angeles event, which falls just 11 days after her baby’s due date. Though she recognizes a 5k may be challenging, it pales in comparison to the journey her mother has endured since a 2011 diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
“If my mom can endure chemotherapy, I can complete a 5k walk,” Marz said. “After she was diagnosed, our family realized there is a real lack of ovarian cancer awareness and research. Now, our entire family and support network is committed to changing that perspective.”
Team Kent Family is walking in the Sunday, Nov. 10, Los Angeles event, which kicks off at 8:30 a.m. in Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd. The USA Track and Field -certified course heads west on Third Street to Cedars-Sinai and loops back to Pan Pacific Park and the Finish Line Festival featuring music, prizes, T-shirts, goodie bags and giveaways.
The Los Angeles walk’s growing popularity inspired participants to organize the first New York City Run for Her to underscore the importance of advancing medical discoveries and treatments that benefit women everywhere. New York's Run for Her begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Hudson River Park, located at Pier 84 (cross at 44th Street). A post-walk celebration is scheduled. More information on the New York Run for Her is available at runforher.kintera.org/ny.
Kara DioGuardi, Grammy-nominated songwriter, Warner Bros. executive, Arthouse Entertainment music publisher and former "American Idol" judge, will serve as spokeswoman for the inaugural New York event. DioGuardi, whose mother died of ovarian cancer, underwent pre-emptive surgery when she found out she carried the gene mutation that greatly increased her risk for breast and ovarian cancers. “This event is very important to me as it brings the ongoing battle of ovarian cancer to the forefront,” DioGuardi said. “I plan on completing the 5k for all those women and families out there who have been affected by women’s cancer.”
Marz said she always feels uplifted by participating. “People ask you about your Run for Her T-shirt on the day of the event – and any time you wear it! I always use it as an opportunity to share important knowledge about this aggressive disease,” she said.
Sharon Robinson, team captain for 4 THE CURE, also has a stake in the effort to eradicate women’s cancer. “I recently found out my sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” she said, fighting tears. “Before her, my cousin had cancer and it advanced so quickly, I never got to say goodbye.”
Robinson has a handful of team members, but is hoping to recruit at least 25 more. “I want people to know that participating at any level helps not just my family, but so many women and their children’s children.”
Run for Her was founded in 2005 by Kelli Sargent in honor of her mother, Nanci Sargent, who lost her life to ovarian cancer. Kelli says that the run-walk "carries forward Mom's strength, inspiration and compassion" and her dream of helping medical science develop a cure for the disease. This year more than 5,000 people are expected to come together to support Nanci's dream of ending cancer as a threat to women. To date, Run for Her has raised more than $5 million to support the work of the Women's Cancer Program.
Early registration of $35 ends Nov. 1, 2013. Late registration costs $40; participants can register on event day. For additional information and a downloadable registration form, visit runforher.com, or call toll-free 888-704-6178.
Presenting corporate sponsors of Run for Her include Pacific Sales Kitchen & Bath Showrooms, LG Electronics and DFS Group.
About the Women's Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai:The Women's Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai's Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute works to end cancer as a threat to women through research, education, early detection and prevention. Established in January 2002, the Women's Cancer Program fosters collaborative research between scientists and physicians to bring innovative laboratory discoveries directly to women with breast and gynecologic cancers. Under the leadership of Beth Y. Karlan, MD, an internationally recognized gynecologic cancer surgeon and research scientist, the Women's Cancer Program works side-by-side with Cedars-Sinai's patient care programs and services to integrate research across a wide spectrum of programs devoted to preventing, diagnosing and treating women's cancers.
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