Westborough – The Westborough Tennis & Swim Club will host the ninth annual 5k/10k Walk/Run Sunday, April 29, to benefit the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The 5k/10k will begin at 9:30 a.m. The 5k is walker and stroller friendly, but the 10k is for runners only.
Kids are welcome to join the free Kids Fun Run.
This event brings a community together to support loved ones who are currently battling pancreatic cancer, to honor loved ones who have been taken and to admire loved ones who have survived. Since its inception, the event has increased awareness and raised more than $500,000.
New this year, Les Mills, certified instructor, will lead children ages 4-6 in a “Born to Move” class while participants walk or run. The class is set to music and will get your children moving and grooving. Drop off is a 9:15 a/m. sharp and pick up at 10:15 a.m. A designated area will be on race grounds. For children older or younger, the Kids Zone will provide supervised games, crafts, and activities. We ask that a parent or caregiver remain with their child.
John Sawyer has participated in the race for the last five years. He is a pancreatic cancer survivor and his story is one of tremendous luck and a fabulous medical team.
In 2012 Sawyer found a lump under his arm. After a full body scan it was noted that the lump was benign but the scan showed a mass on the pancreas. He was referred to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor. The tumor was successfully removed and the pathology came back clean. Six years later, Sawyer remains cancer-free.
Five weeks after surgery, Sawyer participated in his first fundraising walk, completing nine walks since. He is hosting his third annual “Purple Pucks for Pancreatic Cancer Research” in November.
With each year, this event continues to grow and organizers rely on the support of local business and volunteers. To help, visit www.lustgarten.org or www.2017westboroughwalkrun.kintera.org. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
