Published on October 1, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT
Apoorva Sabnis-Stull
(703)837-3687
apoorva.sabnis-stull@preventcancer.org
Celebrity Fitness Trainer Denise Austin, Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn and DC United’s Talon Lead over 400 Runners and Walkers
ALEXANDRIA, VA — On September 26, the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted its first annual Step Away From Cancer 5K run/walk in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. with over 400 registered participants. Honorary chair and celebrity fitness guru Denise Austin lead an energized warm-up, along with trainers from the event’s fitness partner, Sport&Health. Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn completed the race and Sen. and Mrs. Leahy volunteered at the event. Eric Makovsky of Washington DC was the top male runner to finish the race and Eleanor Kerr of University Park, MD was the top female to finish the race.
“The Step Away from Cancer 5K run/walk was a fantastic event! It was great to see people actively take steps to prevent cancer,” explains Denise Austin. “I was thrilled to lead the warm-up at the inaugural race!”
The Step Away From Cancer 5K aims to encourage the public to take their own steps to prevent cancer, through regular screenings and leading a healthy lifestyle. Proceeds from the Step Away From Cancer 5K will support the Foundation’s important cancer prevention research, education and community outreach programs nationwide.
“We were so excited to have Denise as our honorary race/walk chair and local celebrity chef Spike join us, as well as Sen. and Mrs. Leahy help out,” says Carolyn Aldigé, President and Founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “This great event really reinforced our Foundation’s mission; that physical activity lowers the risk of most cancers. Together, we can all take steps away from cancer.”
The foundation also wants to thank all of our race partners and sponsors for making this event possible. PhRMA was a Silver Sponsor and GEICO®, Millennium-Takeda, the NACDS Foundation and Pricewaterhouse Coopers were Bronze Sponsors. Good Stuff Eatery was a Step Away from Cancer 5K race partner along with Sport&Health, Design Cuisine, Honest Tea, Georgetown Running Company, Luna, Coca-Cola, Giant Food, Costco Wholesale, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Reston Limousine, Subway® and D.C. United.
For more information visit www.preventcancer.org.
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About The Prevent Cancer Foundation
The Prevent Cancer Foundation was started in 1985. Today, it is one of the nation’s leading health organizations and has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. Through healthy lifestyle choices, you can reduce your risk of breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, oral, prostate, skin and testicular cancers.
Since its inception the Prevent Cancer Foundation has provided more than $106 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education and community outreach programs across the country. The Foundation’s peer-reviewed grants have been awarded to nearly 400 scientists from more than 150 of the leading academic medical centers nationwide. This research has been pivotal in developing a body of knowledge that is the basis for important cancer prevention and early detection strategies. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.
