Five Deep Run High School students continue the commitment they made to Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center last year by hosting the second annual Wellesley 5K Fun Run on May 16, 2009.

Race packet pick-up is at 8 a.m. and the start is at 9 a.m. The cost for the race is $20 per person or $60 for a family of four. Information on registration and corporate sponsor opportunities can be found at http://www.uniteourcommunity09.kintera.org.

As middle school students, these five were challenged by Corbin Wright, an English teacher at Pocahontas Middle School, to perform a community service project. They took the challenge and planned and executed the Wellesley 5K Fun Run with limited adult support. Last year’s event exceeded their fund raising expectation of $8,000, raising approximately $21,000 for a Pediatric Cancer Research fund at Massey.

“Massey Cancer Center partners with many organizations throughout the region to raise money to fight cancer, and we’ve never seen anything like the Wellesley 5k,” said Mercer Taylor, Director of Special Events. “With sheer will and energy, these kids raised more than $21,000 for Massey last year, and they are aiming even higher this year. Better yet, they have created a family-friendly event that galvanizes the Wellesley community.”

“We learned so much about many aspects of organizing a race and business last year and were pretty surprised by the results and community support,” said Sam Harrell, one of the student organizers.

This year the teenagers have a goal of raising $21,000 and to exceed it again. Proceeds from the race this year are slated for the Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment Fund at Massey, a collaboration between Massey and the Dept. of Pediatrics at VCU Medical Center. Its goal is to recruit a national leader in pediatric cancer research, and the endowment will help support that researcher’s work.

“The cancer researchers at Massey have shown us their laboratory research and how they can help to save lives if they can get more discoveries to people who need them,” said Josh Lockwood, another student coordinator. “That’s really what this is all about.”

While Massey and the Dept. of Pediatrics currently offer clinical trials to pediatric patients, most of Massey’s laboratory investigations are aimed at the adult cancer population.

Contacts:

Student Organizers: Contact via .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Co-Race Director:  Myles Hilliard
Public Relations: Nicole Fratkin and Blake Smoral
Web and Race Organization: Sam Harrell and Josh Lockwood

Adult Liaison and Co-Race Director: Margaret-Anne Hilliard, (804) 386-2302, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Massey Cancer Center:  Mercer Taylor, (804) 828-1451, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

About the VCU Massey Cancer Center: The VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of 65 National Cancer Institute-designated institutions that leads and shapes America’s cancer research efforts. Working with all kinds of cancers, the Center conducts basic, translational and clinical cancer research, provides state-of-the-art treatments and clinical trials, and promotes cancer prevention and education. Since 1974, Massey has served as an internationally recognized center of excellence. It offers more clinical trials than any other institution in Virginia, serving patients in Richmond and in four satellite locations. Its 1,000 researchers, clinicians and staff members are dedicated to improving the quality of human life by developing and delivering effective means to prevent, control and ultimately to cure cancer. Visit Massey at http://www.massey.vcu.edu or call 1-877-4-MASSEY.