Nebraska’s 2nd Lymphomathon 5K walk will be held Saturday, April 30, at Mahoney State Park.
The event, which is hosted by the Lymphoma Research Foundation, will begin at 10 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. at the park pavilion. Mahoney State Park is located just off of I-80 at exit 426, between Omaha and Lincoln.
The Lymphomathon is a fun-filled, non-competitive event that offers survivors, family, friends, community, and corporate teams an opportunity to walk in honor of those whose lives have been touched by lymphoma.
Proceeds from the walk will benefit Nebraskans through free patient services and research grants. The University of Nebraska Medical Center is one of several Nebraska organizations to receive research grants in the past.
At least one Nebraskan is diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, every day. Nebraska has the 16th highest death rate in the country. About 450 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed in Nebraskans each year.
Nebraska’s first Lymphomathon, held last year, was so successful that it ranked in the nation’s top 10 Lymphomathons — raising more than $90,000 — more than enough to fund one research grant. More than 650 participants from 14 states attended.
Last year, Jessica Clark of Gering, participated in the first walk on a team called Papa’s All Stars in honor and memory of her father-in-law, John Clark, who died in 2007 after a long battle with lymphoma. "John was one of the most amazing men I have ever had the privilege of meeting,” said Clark. “He taught me so many things, and it was such an honor to learn from him. By participating in the Lymphomathon last year it was my way to give back to him just a small piece of what he has given me over the years."
Lymphoma survivor, Missy Givens, 31, of Fremont, and her "Missy’s Misfits" team participated in last year’s walk. “It means so much to me that every year there is more and more awareness about lymphoma,” said Givens, who was pregnant when she was diagnosed and relapsed after her initial treatment. “What I have learned from going through cancer is that life is such a gift. I look at life in such a different light now.”
“I remember saying to myself the day my son, Landon, was born, ‘I hope I get to see him go to kindergarten,’ ” said Givens. “We recently went to Kindergarten Roundup. I pray everyday that I stay in remission and be able to raise my babies and be a wife to my husband. In the last few years, I have had the opportunities to help others going through cancer.”
Dana Hendee of the Lymphoma Research Foundation said the Lymphoma Research Foundation was thrilled to see such overwhelming support from Nebraska last year. “Nebraska’s success illustrates both the need for research and the promise that we’ll one day find a cure,” Hendee said.
You can start a team, join a team, sign up as an individual or make a donation, by going to: http://www.lymphomathon.org/Nebraska2011. For more information, contact Joyce Clark, planning team chair, (402) 331-0763, jandjclark@cox.net or nebraska@lymphoma.org.
Strollers and pets are welcome. To access Mahoney State Park, vehicles must display a park permit. Daily permits are available at the park gate for $4.
Major sponsors include Union Pacific, Biogen Idec, Genentech, Allos Therapeutics, Celgene, Millenium: The Takeda Oncology Company, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, The Nebraska Medical Center, UNMC Physicians, Bank of the West, and WOWT TV Channel 6.