The 9th Annual Ribbon Walk & Ride will take place in downtown Fayetteville on Sept. 20. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Cancer Center and will directly benefit local patients who are fighting cancer. The Friends of the Cancer Center helps to provide hundreds of cancer patients and their families with emotional support, information resources, food supplements, assistance with wigs and turbans and emergency needs funding.

Tara Brisson Hinton, development coordinator for the Cape Fear Valley Foundation explained, “Our event keeps the funds in our community helping local cancer patients right now as they go through treatment at Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center. This is our ninth year with the 5K walk and motorcycle ride that continues to grow, as our patients needs continue to grow.

“Our mission is to support our patients right here at home through Friends of the Cancer Center by helping them through a profoundly emotional time and to improve the quality of our patients’ lives,” she continued. “This event plays an integral role in helping us provide financial assistance, wig vouchers, transportation assistance, our Oasis Complimentary Medicine program, resource centers, free mammograms and many support programs. This event allows us to help people right now in our community at the same time walking or riding in honor and in memory of our loved ones who have had to fight the battle of cancer.”

New, at this year’s race, is an honorarium and memorial wall for people to purchase a frame from the Cape Fear Valley Foundation office for a $15 donation. The frames can be decorated and turned back in by Sept. 8 for display at the respective wall during the event.

The team that raises the most money will take ownership of The Crystal Ribbon Trophy until next year’s event. In addition, the top three teams raising the most money will receive recognition at the Foundation Board of Directors Annual Meeting, a certificate of appreciation and a thank you letter from the Board of Directors of the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

The Survivor Reception is Sept. 19 at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church from 7-9 p.m. for survivors and a guest. Registration is $25, $30 the day of and survivor registration is only $15. Survivors will receive a special T-shirt. Register early because shirts are limited. You can register at www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org or call 615-1434 or stop by the foundation office at 101 Robeson St. The reception is a fun night of celebration to honor survivors and those who survive within our hearts.

Hinton continued, “Without our volunteers, participants and community support we would not be able to help as many cancer patients as we do through the annual Ribbon Walk & Ride for Friends of the Cancer Center,… you never know who you may be helping.”

The event is presented by Stanley Steamer, PDQ and Community Home Care & Hospice. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Late registration will open at 7:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies, hosted by Don Chase of WKML and Nicole Carr of ABC 11 News, begin at 8:30 a.m. The bike ride begins at 8:45 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Due to the popularity of the event, this year’s race is returning to Festival Park from the Medical Arts Building. For more information, or to register for the race, please visit http://www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org.