There was a slight delay to the Northern Cancer Foundation's second annual Cancer Centre Walk/Run For Hope.
Greater Sudbury Police officers were dealing with a nuisance bear in the area, but that didn't scare away the participants in this year's event, which started near the William Bell Gazebo at Bell Park.
“We wanted to come up with a walk or run that supported the cancer centre,” said Tannys LaughrenLaughren, executive director, Northern Cancer Foundation. “There are lots of great walks out there, but none of them were supporting the cancer centre. So, 100 per cent of the funds raised today go right back to the cancer centre.”
On top of that, participants were able to choose exactly where their donations went, whether it was supportive care, radiation, chemotherapy or research.
“That's another thing that makes us unique,” Laughren said. “We're a small foundation, so we're able to better direct dollars. People are able to come to the cancer centre and see their donations at work.”
Participants walked one, three and five kilometres. At the finish line was a bell, which each person was able to ring upon completion of their walk or run.
“Just like our amazing chemo and radiation patients do when they are done their treatments,” Laughren said.
Last year's event raised $25,000.
“For us, that's significant,” Laughren said. “Every penny went right back into the cancer centre.
“Our hope this year is more people and more money, but our intent is to grow the event slowly. We know that we're big enough now that next year we'll be at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre.”
