Grand Canyon University Announces Its Third Annual Run to Fight Children's Cancer

The 10K/5K event will be held March 9 to raise money for Children's Cancer Network and Phoenix Children's Hospital

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Feb 25, 2013, 05:29 ET

PHOENIX, Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Canyon University (GCU) is holding its annual Run to Fight Children's Cancer event for the third year in a row to raise awareness and funds to aid the fight against childhood cancer. The event raised $70,000 in its first two years, and this year's run is expected to draw more than 4,000 participants and raise over $100,000.

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The run will be held from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on March 9 on the Grand Canyon University campus at 3300 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix. The event features a 10K run, a 5K run/walk and a special quarter-mile Cancer Survivors' Walk. The run is presented by Pono Construction and all proceeds benefit the Children's Cancer Network and Phoenix Children's Hospital.

"Our goal with this event has remained the same from its very inception – to heighten awareness for childhood cancer and raise money that will help fund research, patient care, and programs that provide financial and emotional support to local families dealing with childhood cancer," said Jose Moreno, GCU community outreach manager.

Each year, GCU selects a childhood cancer survivor to serve as the Honorary Race Starter and sound the starting horn. This year's race starter is 9-year-old Cooper Gokee, of Maricopa, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2012.

This year, runners and walkers are able to individually fundraise by asking friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to support their efforts on race day. Every dollar raised through individual fundraising is another dollar that will go directly to supporting the families dealing with this disease. All runners and walkers will receive a Dri-FIT T-shirt, a finisher's medal and gold shoelaces – the color of childhood cancer awareness.

The Cancer Survivors' Walk is one of the focal points of this event, serving as an opportunity to honor children who beat cancer and those who are still fighting, as well as those who have lost their battle. Each child who walks in the Survivors' Walk will receive a gold "Cancer-Fighting Superhero" cape to wear and keep.

"Not only is this an inspirational event, it's also really a fun family day," Moreno said. "We have music, food, games, arts and crafts, cheerleaders and mascots. The kids are the heroes, and we want this day to be about them."

For more information or to register, visit runtofightcancer.com.

Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona's premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited and emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students and the working professional in seven colleges: the Ken Blanchard College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Theology, the College of Fine Arts and Production, and the College of Doctoral Studies. GCU offers traditional programs on its growing campus, as well as online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. The University's curriculum fuses academic and clinical rigor with Christian values to prepare its students to be skilled, caring professionals. For more information about GCU, visit www.gcu.edu.

SOURCE Grand Canyon University