Student organizers of the Valley's 8th annual walk-a-thon by
Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research hope this year to top the
$1 million mark in total donations collected since starting in
2002.
The 3-hour variable-length walk - up to 5 miles around the track at
Pinnacle High School, 3535 E. Mayo Blvd. - starts at noon on
Saturday, March 7, accompanied by the music of five live bands,
inflatable bouncy castles, a variety of food and free
massages.
"This year, our goal is to surpass the $1 million mark that
represents our total earnings since 2002. It would be great to
raise at least $250,000 this year, which would be an increase from
last year," said Christie Shely, a senior at Horizon High School
and the SSBTR Co-Chair for 2009.
Student organizers also hope to attract as many as 4,500
participants, including students representing more than 100 Arizona
schools, Shely said. The walk will include a silent auction,
featuring more than 100 items.
In addition, the group is sponsoring its first walk-a-thon in
Tucson, from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, on the mall at the
University of Arizona. The walks support brain cancer research at
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital and the
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). More than 95
percent of the money raised goes directly to research, awareness
and treatment. The student organization's expenses, including
postage, printing and promotion, do not exceed 5 percent.
Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research (SSBTR) was founded in
2002 after three Paradise Valley School District students died from
brain tumors. After leukemia, brain tumors are the No. 1 cause of
cancer deaths among teenagers.
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If you go
When: Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Registration starts at 11:30
a.m.
Where: Pinnacle High School, 3535 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, northwest
of Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard.
2009 Beneficiaries: The Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen), the National Brain Tumor Society, Barrow Neurological
Institute, and Phoenix Children's Hospital.
Registration: Please visit
www.ssbtr.org/index.php?action=walkathon. The tax-deductible walk
registration fee is $10.
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About SSBTR
Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research (SSBTR) is a
Scottsdale-based, student-run organization. Last year, student
representatives from more than 100 Arizona schools participated in
the walk-a-thon, which was attended by more than 4,000 people and
raised $228,000 for brain tumor research. For more information,
visit www.ssbtr.org or call 1-888-SSBTR-AZ (772-8729).
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a
non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking
research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on
helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological
disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. For more
information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]