UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute will host its sixth annual Wilmot Warrior Walk on Sunday, September 9 at the Highland Park Bowl in Rochester. The fundraiser features a certified 5K, certified 10K and a 1-mile walk, as well as a post-race celebration. Proceeds support cancer research and the Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program at Wilmot Cancer Institute.
“Events like the Wilmot Warrior Walk are incredibly inspiring to our faculty and staff. Thanks to support from the Rochester community, important innovations in oncology are happening right here at home,” says Dr. Jonathan W. Friedberg, director of Wilmot Cancer Institute. “In addition to raising funds that help us find better ways to treat cancer, the walk brings us together to celebrate life and remember those we’ve lost to cancer. I invite everyone in Rochester and the region to join us in September.”
Last year’s event raised $170,000 and had about 1,300 attendees. This year, the event has a goal of raising $200,000 and welcoming 2,000 attendees. Funds have helped support important research projects, including one on aromatherapy and its benefits for cancer patients.
The program also supports Wilmot’s cancer survivorship program. Since 2013, the program has provided more than 2,700 survivorship visits, appointments that help educate and guide cancer patients who have completed active treatment.
“Living beyond cancer should be cause for celebration for the growing population of individuals who have persevered through its treatment, but a number of hurdles can compromise the quality of life for survivors and their families. Wilmot’s Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program was created to address these hurdles,” says Dr. Louis “Sandy” Constine, director of the Survivorship program. “This program exists as a result of the generosity of many in the Rochester community, and we welcome all members of the community to join us September 9 to help cancer patients and survivors have a better and healthier future.”
In addition to raising funds for local cancer research and survivorship care, the event serves as a celebration of life beyond cancer, complete with food trucks, bounce houses and more fun for the whole family. At this year’s walk, 13WHAM’s Jennifer Johnson will serve as emcee.
Teams are encouraged to rally around cancer patients or survivors they know, wearing festive team shirts or even whole costumes – plenty of attendees at last year’s event donned tutus and funny hats.
The Wilmot Warrior Walk is sponsored by Wegmans, The Summit Federal Credit Union, Cobblestone Capital Advisors, BME Associates, Crazy Dog T-shirts, Texas de Brazil, Ganon Rose Equipment and The Exchange. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact the Wilmot Advancement team at 276-4717 or wci@rochester.edu to learn more. Local organizations and businesses can also get involved by hosting a Wear Jeans for Wilmot Day, where employees agree to pay $10 each and receive a T-shirt.
Registration for the Wilmot Warrior Walk costs $35 per person. Participants can register online through Friday, September 8 or the day of the event. To learn more or register, visit WarriorWalk.URMC.edu.
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