Sun 6/3 @ 9AM
The Gathering Place is hosting their 18th annual Race for the Place Sun 6/3. In celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day®, participants can raise funds to support those touched by cancer in Cleveland’s local communities. The event offers a one-mile and chip-timed 5K for walkers and runners alike.
“The Race for the Place continues to get bigger and better as more and more community members come out to celebrate Cancer Survivors Day and support the Gathering Place,” said Eileen Saffran, chief executive officer of the Gathering Place. “Every dollar raised from the race provides free programs to help make a cancer journey more bearable, for not only the survivor, but also their family and friends. Last year the community helped us raise over $387,000 to support children, teens and adults coping with a cancer diagnosis.”
Race for the Place is expected to draw over 4,000 participants this year and net $400,000 in proceeds, which will help fund the free services offered at the Gathering Place.
“Many people think that the Gathering Place only offers support groups but we provide so much more, says Kristina Austin, chief marketing officer at the Gathering Place. “The Gathering Place has a wig salon where women can receive a free wig for cancer-related hair loss. We also offer exercise classes that help to manage treatment-related side effects like fatigue, programs to help children and teens cope when a parent or other significant adult has cancer, and programs to help families when a child or teen is diagnosed with cancer. Our programs are for those with any type of cancer and programs are provided for the family and friends of an individual diagnosed with cancer.”
The race is rain or shine, starting at Beachwood Place at 9am on the upper level parking deck between Nordstrom and Dillard’s. Race day registration begins at 7:30am. A National Cancer Survivors Day ceremony will be emceed by WKYC Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins beginning at 8:45am. Several family activities, including face painting, games, music and more will be held in Celebration Village, starting at 8:00am.
“It is always exciting and wonderful to hold our cancer survivors ceremony and honor the people up on the stage and the hundreds and hundreds of other survivors in attendance and their family members,” says Kristina. “It fills our hearts to see so many people coming out in honor and memory of family and friends and in support of the work that we do.”
Post-race, an award ceremony will take place at 10:30am, recognizing the teams with the most members and those that raised the most money in five categories: corporate, community, school, health-fitness and new team. Awards will also be presented to the overall male and female winners, male and female cancer survivors and overall winners in each age category.
Register individually or start a team online here, or by calling the Gathering Place at 216.595.9546.
@touchedbycancer
[Written by Kendall Embrescia-Hridel]
Toms River Township, NJ 08753
2101 Richmond Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122
Beachwood, OH 44122