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- Posted Monday October 5, 2015
Derrick Hall of the Arizona Diamondbacks is honorary chair of TGen's 10th annual stepNout race Nov. 1
5K is expected to draw record numbers of participants to the Scottsdale Sports Complex, helping fund TGen's pancreatic cancer research
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Oct. 5, 2015 - What started
as a small fundraiser for the Translational Genomics Research
Institute (TGen) has blossomed over the past decade into one of
Arizona's largest annual events in the fight to conquer
cancer.
TGen's 10th annual stepNout Run Walk Dash on Nov. 1 at the
Scottsdale Sports Complex is expected to draw a record crowd and
raise record donations for TGen's fight against the ravages of
pancreatic cancer, the nation's fourth leading cause of cancer
related death.
This 10th anniversary event includes special commemorative
t-shirts, food trucks, music, games, a photo booth, a balloon
artist, face painting and more. Form a team with your family or
employees where you work. Raise more than $1,500 and earn a team
tent and team photo. Participants may sign up by going to www.helptgen.org and clicking on
Events.
Last year, TGen's stepNout raised nearly $250,000, bringing total
donations since 2006 to more than $1 million. This year, stepNout
begins efforts to raise another $1 million.
"Support from the stepNout event and the Seena Magowitz Foundation
has helped our team devise a treatment, which has already improved
survival of patients with pancreatic cancer," said TGen
Physician-In-Chief Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff. "The new therapies we
are currently offering to patients look even more promising."
We cannot accomplish our goal together of taking out this disease
without support like this, said Dr. Von Hoff.
For the second year, Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO
Derrick Hall will be the honorary chair of stepNout.
"It is my honor to participate again this year in TGen's
stepNout," said Hall, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer
nearly four years ago. "It is my hope that together we can all make
a difference in the struggle to find new ways of detecting this
disease early and of finding new treatments to better the lives of
patients and their families."
The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach and is
responsible for producing hormones and digestive juices. Pancreatic
cancer this year will take the lives of more than 40,000 Americans.
Median survival for patients with advanced disease was less than 6
months, and the 5-year survival rate was less than 10 percent.
Thanks to fundraising efforts like this, both of these statistics
are now improving.
Under Dr. Von Hoff's leadership, TGen - in cooperation with
HonorHealth - has made major progress in treating patients with
pancreatic cancer. Based on TGen's science, followed by a major
clinical trial, the FDA in 2013 approved the use of albumin-bound
paclitaxel (Abraxane) in combination with gemcitabine as a
front-line therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer.
"We are grateful to the hundreds of generous friends whose
participation in this event has helped establish TGen as a world
leader in pancreatic cancer research," said TGen Foundation
President Michael Bassoff. "The stepNout event brings real hope to
patients and families worldwide."
More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in competitive
races for all ages and abilities, including the event's signature
5K run. Onlineregistration ends Oct. 27 butparticipants
can stillregister at the event. This is the second year the
event will be at the Scottsdale Sports Complex, northeast of Bell
and Hayden roads.
*
If you go to stepNout
What: TGen's 10th annual stepNout Run/Walk/Dash
for pancreatic cancer research.
Where: Scottsdale
Sports Complex, 8081 E. Princess Drive, northeast of Hayden and
Bell roads, between Loop 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright
Boulevard.
When: 7:30-11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; races begin at 9 a.m.; a kids'
dash is planned for 10:30 a.m.
Cost: Registration fees range from $10 to $30,
depending on age. Costs increase by $5 after Oct. 16. Children ages
4 and under are free.
Parking: Free.
More information and registration: www.helptgen.org and click on events.
Contact Andrea Daly at (602) 343-8572 or by email at [email protected].
# # #
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
