Cancer is a too common diagnosis that can uproot and create chaos within a family. Those at the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center are there to help and raise needed funds to support local families. 

The 10th Annual Ribbon Walk and Run is slated for Sunday, April 10. The event begins at Festival Park, and is hosted by the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center with presenting sponsors Stanley Steemer and Gill Security. New this year is the change from a Walk and Ride to a Walk and Run.

“We’ve had several requests from runners to include a race so new this year is a sanctioned 5K run. We are expecting 1,500 participants on that Sunday afternoon,” said Tara Hinton, development coordinator for the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation. “It means so much to our patients to see the community come together to help during these difficult times while we all have someone to remember and honor fighting this battle.”

Teams also include local dignitaries including Miss Fayetteville’s Crowns for Service and #teamdees, supporting former Hope Mills Mayor Eddie Dees who is battling pancreatic cancer. 

Runners and walkers can sign up until the day of registration at 1 p.m. Registration fees in advance are $25 for walkers, $30 for runners and $20 for all cancer survivors whether walking or running. Limited edition Survivor t-shirts are available on a first come, first served basis. Don’t wait until the day of the event, but if you do, it’s an extra $5. 

The opening ceremony will start on April 10 at 2 p.m. with the emcee Don Chase from WKML, Special Forces Association Parachute team jump, Miss Fort Bragg singing the National Anthem, survivor recognition with photo displays and a fun Zumba warmup by the HealthPlex.  The race will begin at 3 p.m. with runners starting first,  and walkers following. 

Also new to the event this year is a large jumbotron digital billboard, where friends and family can submit photos in memory or in honor of loved ones. The display photo forms are available on the website and the deadline for submission is April 4. 

The Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Cape Fear Valley Health and all funds donated the Health Foundation are directed to programs and services. The Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center helps provide hundreds of cancer patients with emotional support, informational resources, free mammograms, food supplements, wigs and gas vouchers, free hats and turbans, massages and reflexology, Artful Reflections art therapy and emergency needs funding such as mortgage and utility payments. In addition, each year Friends of the Cancer Center sponsors Camp Rockfish, a camp to celebrate life for cancer patients and their families.

There are three signature fundraising events according to Hinton, including this race. The two other events include the Friends of Children Golf Classic, which will be held on Oct. 6 to benefit children at Cape Fear Valley including the NICU and the Cape Fear Valley Gala in January. Throughout the year, there are also 30+ third party events such as the Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union charity golf tournament, the Methodist University Play for Kay and the Fayetteville State University Ball in Pink. 

“Community support extends whether they know someone personally and are trying to raise needed funds, or our annual events,” said Hinton. “There are others throughout the year and they help support our mission.  The most important part is these funds being raised stay at home and go directly in the door of Cape Fear Valley. By supporting this event or the various ones during the year, you may be helping someone you know.”

For more information about the 2016 Run/Walk, to start a team or signup or to donate, visit www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org.