Elizabeth’s Out Run Melanoma 5k and Walk has grown so much over the past few years that the fifth annual event has moved to Enterprise South Nature Park and organizers anticipate at least 200 participants.
What began as a small race for Elizabeth Smith’s family to honor her memory each Mother’s Day – the day she passed away in 2009 following her battle with cancer – grew to be the Elizabeth R. Smith Melanoma Program through CHI Memorial Foundation.
The late Lookout Valley resident was first diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma in June 1989, said CHI Memorial Foundation President Jennifer Nicely. Following her surgery, Smith believed her cancer was gone, but it reappeared nearly 20 years later.
Elizabeth Smith passed away in 2009 following a battle with cancer.
“Melanoma incidence is rising extremely fast,” said Dr. John Chung, of CHI Memorial’s Skin Cancer and Cosmetic Dermatology Center. “It is one of the most deadly forms of cancer.”
Though melanoma is less common than other forms of skin cancer, it is more likely to grow and spread. According to American Cancer Society estimates, approximately 87,110 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed in 2017. And 9,730 people are expected to die of melanoma this year.
“If caught early, it is 100 percent curable,” Chung said. “Through wonderful events like Elizabeth’s Out Run Melanoma 5k and Walk, I hope a much greater awareness is brought to our community.”
In its first year of existence, the Elizabeth R. Smith Melanoma Program met or exceeded all of its first year goals, Nicely said.
“And we are well on our way to success for year two,” she added. “Outreach efforts such as community health fairs offering ‘mole patrol,’ multi-disciplinary tumor conferences which discuss and determine treatment for complicated new melanoma diagnoses, nurse navigation for melanoma patients, and genetic testing and counseling are some of the initial milestones met.”
In tribute to Smith, the race is being held on Mother’s Day, May 13, and has an entry fee of $30 for the timed run and $25 for all other options. Children under age 12 can participate at no cost.
Registration for the event opens at 8 a.m. that day, with sponsor booths and physical therapists from CHI Memorial to assist with pre-race stretching and offer massages. The hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation team will also lead a full warm-up prior to the 5k run and walk and 1-mile fun run, which both begin at 9 a.m.
All participants will receive a tech performance T-shirt and other items.
To learn more or sign up for the race, go to itsyourrace.com and search for the event by name.
To find out more about melanoma, visit the American Cancer Society at cancer.org