Jefferson Health has opened registration for its first cherry blossom run/walk fundraiser, planned for Sunday, April 26, at the hospital system’s Cherry Hill campus.
Larry Slagle, assistant vice president of development, is overseeing the run.
“We thought one way to get the word about this is to invite the community in to support us with a walk or a run,” he explained. “And so that’s how this cherry blossom walk/run developed. The money that we’re raising is going to go to support the work of the cancer center.
“It will go for everything from clinical trials expansion to helping our patients if they’re having trouble paying bills or raising money for our greatest needs fund.”
Proceeds will benefit the state’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centers and help patients who can’t afford their hospital bills.
“A number of our patients are underinsured or uninsured,” Slagle noted. “And we still provide care for them. So these funds will help us to care for those folks. We also help offset, if somebody can’t afford to get to the treatment, we have a fund that will help support their transportation costs and that kind of thing.
“So it really is an overall safety net that we want to provide for our patients.”
Besides the run, the hospital also gets donations from a yearly gala, a September golf event, bake sales and individual donations and corporations, and raises between $1 million and $2 million.
Tamara LaCouture, east region chief of cancer services, said in a press release that the run will help Kimmel’s patients.
“This event brings our mission to life in a visible and meaningful way,” she said. “Every step taken supports patients who are navigating cancer with strength and resilience.”
Slagle said the purpose of the run/walk is to ensure inclusion for individuals who can’t make other events.
“The idea is something that is community based,” he pointed out. “We wanted to drive more awareness of the cancer centers, particularly in the Cherry Hill community, since that’s the new effort that we’ve put in there. And this is just a great way to get people who don’t golf or don’t want to go to a fancy gala (to) help support us …
“It’s very accessible.”
The run is being sponsored by Paparone Insurance, Paparone Homes, Fulton Bank and the First National Bank of Elmer. As of April 2, there were 76 runners registered, with the goal of between 150 and 200. The financial goal is $50,000.
Participants can choose between a 5K run or one-mile walk. The cost is $40 for runners and $25 for walkers, $20 for runners 12 and younger and free for walkers 12 and under who register in advance. Day-of fees are $50 for runners and $35 for walkers to register, starting at 7:30 a.m.
Slagle predicts there will be more runners than walkers.
“I think that there’s a lot of people who look forward to a 5K run because it’s sometimes a training ground for a longer run,” he said. “And … the running community is pretty strong. The walk, somebody, it’s a mile walk, so that’s a nice challenge. But I think in these types of events, usually there’s more runners than walkers.”
