Guest blogger Max Wallace is the CEO of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), a Case Foundation partner organization and co-beneficiary of today's Race for Hope, DC.
We are all so excited about the wonderfully successful Race for Hope held here in Washington, DC, this morning at the beautiful -- but wet -- Freedom Plaza. The Race for Hope was started 12 years ago by a dedicated group of volunteers who wanted to raise money to support research aimed at curing brain cancer.
The proceeds from the race now go to our organization, Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, and to the National Brain Tumor Society.
Despite conditions that ranged from misty to downright rainy, 9,000 participants were there at the 9:00 am start when over 300 yellow-clad brain tumor survivors led the way across the starting line. 380 teams formed for the event wore their own unique team colors and carried signs showing support for loved ones, family members and friends stricken by this disease. Our Honorary Race Chairman, musician David Cook, ran with his own team over the 5K course around the US Capitol and back.
After everyone completed the course, the volunteer chairs presented a number of awards, but perhaps the most touching presentation was made by David Cook himself. Not only was he the honorary Chair of the Race, his own team actually led all teams in fundraising with nearly $100,000 raised by race time. With such great help from his team and from supporters around the world, David was able to present a total race check of $2,000,000 to Stacey Case and Jean Case, two of our founders, and to representatives of NBTS.
This money will enable us to continue to drive the most cutting edge work by the nation’s leading brain cancer researchers. After presenting the check, David spoke quietly and earnestly to the crowd, saying how very important this cause was to him because his brother Adam, who had been battling brain cancer for a number of years, had passed away just the night before. David went on to say that while he had lost his brother, standing there looking out he realized that had gained thousands of new friends, each of whom was working toward the same goal of finding a cure for this terrible disease. He said that he would come back for the Race next year, and for each year thereafter, as long as we would have him. I am pleased to make that invitation right now – David, we would be honored to have you join us for next year’s race. And for the Races thereafter.
In the meantime we will continue to work to raise money and support the research that is so important to all of us. To that end, it is still possible to help by contributing to David’s team (or to any of the other teams, or even to the Race itself) by going to the Race website at www.curebraintumors.org. We will always value your support in this effort and we would love to have you join with David and with us going forward. I look forward to seeing you at next year’s Race for Hope.
Tags: ABC2 david cook NBTS race for hope
If this had been any other race I think I’d have been a lot more disappointed. But it’s the Race for Hope, which raises money to benefit brain tumor research. There are a lot of survivors who run the race, as well as people who have both "in memory of" and "in celebration of" bibs, shirts, signs, bandannas, and anything else they can think of. It’s an extremely emotional race.
- barden 20 Jun 09, 11:30
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