Folks from as far away as Brooklyn came to Derby bright and early Saturday morning to participate in Griffin Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care Second Annual 5K Walk-Run.
Proceeds from the event will go toward creating a Comprehensive Breast Wellness Center at Griffin Hospital.
The goal — $1 million. Click here for more info.
Saturday’s event — one of many over the weekend in the Valley — kicked off at 9 a.m., with Griffin Hospital CEO Patrick Charmel thanking all the participants and organizers.
Attendance at the race doubled from last year, according to Marge Deegan, vice-president of ambulatory services at Griffin. Some 500 people pre-registered for the race as of Saturday morning.
Almost twenty five percent of the attendees, 114 people, were there to support guest speaker and Oxford resident Eve Casey.
The “Walk for Eve” team was spearheaded by 17-year-old Oxford High School Student Josh Silkoff, who is friends with the Casey family.
Casey thanked her family and friends who walked and ran, especially Silkoff and his parents, Carol and Paul Silkoff. She also thanked Griffin Cancer Center therapist and staff for supporting her through stage three cancer.
“I want to thank my mom and dad for putting their lives on hold for the past year for me,” Casey said. “Everyone should be so blessed to have parents so loving as both of you. I love you so much and I am proud to be your daughter.”
Charmel said earlier that he was very pleased with the amount of attendees at the event.
“We are pleased by the outpouring and support of the cancer center and for those patients treated for the past two years,” Charmel said. “Hundreds of patients’ lives benefited from the center and we are pleased to expand services going into our third year to include our center for breast wellness which will include screening, diagnosis and treatment.”
Crossing the finish line first running in 21 minutes and thirty-five seconds was another amazing high school student, Adam Gallagher.
Gallager, 15 and a freshman at Branford High School, said he ran to support his aunt, Lori Murphy.
Murphy, a radiation therapist at the cancer center, coordinated the fundraiser with Laura Howell, another therapist at the cancer center. Both Murphy and Howell have coordinated the event since it began in 2009.
This year’s event was expected to raise upwards of $50,000.
