There are many walks and runs that a person can participate in to help find a cure for cancer, but for four years now The Runyon 5K allows for baseball fans the opportunity of a lifetime-the opportunity to take in the sights of legendary Yankee Stadium.
Yankee Stadium is set to host the Runyon 5K
Staring from The Grand Hall, 4,000 cancer survivors, family members and supporters were able to get a full tour of what is known as the Cathedral of Baseball. Participants were able to explore from the basement level to the upper concourse and even touch the hallowed warning track circling the field where the Bombers won their World Series in 2009.
Not only were participants able to get an amazing experience, but they were also helping in finding a cure for cancer, as the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation provides the brightest and best young scientists with funding so that the devastating disease will be no more.
“The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation supports the most brilliant young scientist across the country,” said Lorraine W. Egan, President & CEO, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation about the Runyon 5K. “We have racers here who are cancer survivors, those who are supporting a family member or a loved one who has cancer today.”
Since 2009 the Runyon 5K will have raised over $2 million dollars, which 100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support cutting-edge scientific research.
On hand to help support the Runyon 5K were Yankees-greats Ron Blomberg and Mickey Rivers who have both lost loved ones to the disease.
“It is a very simple thing, to be able to come out here and raise money for the most destructive disease in the world,” said Blomberg about being at the event. “It is an honor for me to be asked to do something like this.”
Blomberg who is able to gain a firsthand look at cancer as his son is a physician, while is daughter is a doctor-so the star takes time out to visit hospitals throughout the country to visit children who have cancer.
“My goal is to help this cause, my goal is to beat this,” Blomberg said. “Unfortunately I have had a lot of my friends die from cancer-it is a terrible disease and to be able to come out here and do something it is great.”
Rivers, who is remembered as one of the fastest Yankees of all time echoed Blomberg’s sentiments on being a part of the event telling 1495 Sports, “I think it is great to be out here today, it is for a great cause. It is a tremendous day and turnout.”
It was in fact a tremendous day, as one only knows it will be a matter of time that with the combined forces of the passionate runners and walkers at the Runyon 5K and the scientist at the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation before a cure is found.
Until then there is still a ton of work to do and for those wanting to find out more about the groundbreaking research at the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation are encouraged to click on the link below:
Fans are encouraged to check out the 1495 Sports Photo Gallery from The Runyon 5K by clicking on the link below:
1495 Sports TV brings fans some of the sights and thoughts from the day:
http://1495sports.com/2012/08/13/1495-sports-tv-interviews-and-look-from-the-runyon-5k/
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