More than 500 Valley residents are expected to join researchers
from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) at
Tempe's Kiwanis Community Park on March 7 for the first unTEAL A
CURE 5K.
Represented by the color teal, the run-walk aims to help raise
awareness and stomp out ovarian cancer, whose symptoms often are
not properly diagnosed until the cancer is in its late stages and
more difficult to treat. Among the indicators of ovarian cancer are
frequent or urgent urination and a family history of breast or
ovarian cancer.
Emcee of the event is Evan Farmer, an actor for 15 years on film,
stage and TV, best known for hosting The Learning Channel's (TLC's)
hit home make-over show, While You Were Out. He also has appeared
in concert, opening for Britney Spears, as the lead singer of
boyband spoof 2GE+HER. Farmer has been active in cancer
philanthropy for nearly two decades. His mother, Jamison (Jay)
Farmer, passed away from ovarian cancer in 2007.
Also attending the races will be award-winning and New York Times
best-selling author and Valley resident Barbara Park, who is an
ovarian cancer survivor. She now works to make sure women battling
ovarian cancer get the diagnosis and treatment they deserve no
matter what their financial situation.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that this year more than
21,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and
more than 14,000 will die from the disease, nearly one every 37
minutes. This cancer appears in tissues of the ovary, one of a pair
of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are
formed.
All of the proceeds from the unTEAL A CURE 5K will benefit TGen's
efforts to save lives and improve patient outcomes through new
laboratory discoveries.
Dr. Heather Cunliffe, Head of TGen's Breast & Ovarian Cancer
Research Unit, is working on ovarian cancer studies that she hopes
will lead to earlier detection, improved treatment and prolonged
survival.
Details
What: unTEAL A CURE 5K
Where: North end of Tempe's Kiwanis Community Park, 6111 S.
All-America Way. Enter off Baseline Road, west of Mill
Avenue.
When: March 7. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; events start at
8:30 a.m. Why: Raise $25,000 for TGen ovarian cancer
research.
How: Registration fees through Feb. 20 are: $25 for ages 13 and up;
$5 for ages 5-12; children under 5 are free. Registration fees
after Feb. 20 are: $30 for ages 13 and up; $10 for ages 5-12.
To register, please go to: www.helptgen.org.
More information: Contact Michele Avery at 602-625-3857 or
[email protected]
Interview requests To interview Evan Farmer, please contact Erin
Massey, Director of Development, TGen Foundation, at 602-343-8470
or [email protected]
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