Last year’s 5K participants & volunteers pose with fan favorite Nationals’ mascot Teddy!

The countdown to the 5k continues and it is now less than five months away! Registration is now open for the walk/run at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 29 from 8am – noon. Sign up today as an individual or start a team and save $5 off registration. This year’s event will feature a warm up hosted by Dance Trance DC, a 5k course along the waterfront and surrounding area, a chance to test your skills in the Nationals batting cages and information and screenings provided by local medical professionals. Those who register early will also have a chance to participate in community events leading up to the 5K.

5K Kickoff Happy Hour

To kick off the Prevent Cancer 5k walk/run and to get all participants excited and motivated, we will be hosting a Kickoff Happy Hour at Wilson Tavern in Clarendon on Thursday, June 6, 5-9 pm. Wilson Tavern has generously offered to give 10% of the proceeds from the night back to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Registration for the event is $8 ahead of time and $10 at the door, registration includes drink and food specials all evening long and a pair of Prevent Cancer Foundations sunglasses. Friends, family and coworkers are all welcome!

Game Day at Nationals Park

August 11 will be this year’s Prevent Cancer Foundation Game Day at Nationals Park. The Nats will be playing against the Phillies that night and special ticket offers and discounts will be available to 5k participants and friends of the Prevent Cancer Foundation.

To register for the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k Walk/Run today follow this link. We want to kick registration into high-gear, so if you use the promo-code: EARLYBIRD you will receive a $5 discount on you registration fee before June 30, 2013.

We will be sending out information periodically about tickets for our National’s Game Night, Prevent Cancer 5k Walk/Run Kickoff Happy Hour at Wilson Tavern and other great opportunities for teams, families and friends to get together and raise funds and awareness for cancer prevention and early detection! Stay tuned and help us Stop Cancer Before it Starts!

(From L. to R.) Prevent Cancer Foundation COO & EVP Jan Bresch, 2013 5k Walk/Run Chair Allison Hutchins, and 2012 5k Chair and Foundation Board member Katherine Kennedy

Spring is here and with it starts the countdown to the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k Walk/Run! This is the time to join or form a team to help Stop Cancer Before It Starts!

This year’s event is being chaired by Allison Hutchins, a longtime 5k walk/run participant and last year’s top individual fundraiser and captain of the top fundraising team. It will take place once again at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 29 and will include plenty of food, fun and health and wellness for all including your pet! In addition to the walk/run, participants will be able to use the Nats batting cages, be able to tour the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™ and visit health and wellness booths.

What a great way to raise vital funds for cancer research, education, advocacy and community outreach. Visit the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k Walk/Run site often for updates and latest news!

Racing President Teddy leads the 5K starting line.

Dance Trance led a fun, aerobic warm-up before Nationals Racing President Teddy and Washington Kastles mascot Top Spin kicked off the walk/run. Following a victory lap inside the stadium on the main concourse, guests enjoyed music and food, visited the Nationals dugout and batting cages (where they could actually swing at balls), toured the Prevent Cancer Super Colon, picked up some doggie treats from Barkley Square and Aunt Sasha’s Barked Goods and tried their hands at the hoola hoop station, corn hole tosses and giant Jenga (provided by United Social Sports). We even had free oral cancer screenings and a Walgreens table where people could get flu shots.

A huge thank you goes out to our wonderful 5k Chair, Katherine Kennedy. Her commitment and passion for cancer prevention, along with her incredible social media outreach was a driving force to making this event a fundraising success!

“I was truly humbled and overwhelmed by the support the entire community bestowed upon us,” said Event Chair Katherine Kennedy. “There are so many people to thank from the team captains rallying more teams and participants than ever before to so many generous sponsors and friends of the Foundation pooling their resources for this spectacular event. Truly a group effort to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!”

Prevent Cancer EVP/COO Jan Bresch, top fundraiser Allison Hutchins and Event Chair Katherine Kennedy.

We also want to give a big shout out to top individual fundraiser Allison Hutchins, who raised $3,025, winning a treadmill desk grand prize generously donated by exclusive fitness partner LifeSpan Fitness. Allison was also captain of the top fundraising team, Cancer Conquerors, which raised $7,640 and won a catered dinner for 10 by Windows Catering. Ginger Albright of the Cancer Conquerers was the second top individual fundraiser with $2,165, and Grant Allen’s team All in Against Cancer came in second in team fundraising with $7,455.

Many thanks to generous sponsors Bayer HealthCare (Grand Slam), Johnson & Johnson (Home Run), Pricewaterhouse Coopers (Triple), Venable (Triple), Lilly (Double), Millenium Pharmaceuticals (Double), Genentech (RBI), 1-800 CONTACTS (RBI), MarcParc Valet (In-Kind), Subway (In-Kind) and exclusive fitness partner LifeSpan Fitness.

The 5k may be over for this year, but it’s not too late to give to cancer prevention efforts! Donations are still being accepted for teams and individuals who are working to complete their fundraising goals. Event proceeds will support the Foundation’s cancer prevention research, community outreach, advocacy and education programs. To make a donation, please go to www.preventcancer5K.org.

See more photos from this year’s 5K on our Facebook page–don’t forget to tag yourself!  Check back to the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k site for the date of the 5th Annual Prevent Cancer Foundation 5K, which will again be held at Nationals Park!

The Ladies of Dance Trance: Lauren Cantrell McCaghren, Sarah Spear Sands and Maria Jose Garcia Casellas on Capitol Hill.

When I first learned about the Prevent Cancer Foundation, I had no idea that there were so many preventable cancers. I was amazed…I didn’t realize how many lifestyle choices you can make that help prevent cancer…and the time to start is in your 20s and 30s.

So, when Katherine Kennedy – Chairperson of the 2012 Prevent Cancer Foundation 5K walk/run – approached me and asked me to be a part of this year’s event, I was “all in.”

Katherine is bringing critical awareness about many preventable cancers – among the people who need to be aware: young men and women in their 20s and 30s. I loved her initiative – and am so happy that Dance Trance can be a part of it.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s mission of saving lives through cancer prevention and early detection hits particularly close to home for me because my father, a dermatologist, has dedicated his life to fighting the effects of melanoma. We were raised on a diet of milk and sunscreen. People often fail to recognize how powerful the sun is…I owe so much to my dad for building that awareness in his daughters starting at such a young age.

I started Dance Trance DC following a 7-year career as a tax attorney and lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Dance Trance is a fun fitness class that combines aerobics with dynamic choreography to “Top 40” music. The DC location is the 42nd Dance Trance program in the country and already has over 60 full-time members since it’s formal launch 3 months ago.

The Dance Trance Moves to Prevent Cancer Event will take place on the evening of Wednesday, September 19. Starting at 8pm, the young professionals will be invited to take place in a 60 minute Dance Trance class – the first 30 minutes will be spent learning a new routine, which the group will perform in a ‘flash mob’ style at the warm-up for the Prevent Cancer 5K walk/run on Sunday, September 30 at Nationals Stadium. The last 30 minutes of the class will be akin to the “high-cardio” classes offered seven times a week at Balance Gym. Following the class, there will be a happy hour hosted on the roof of Balance Gym – Thomas Circle (1111 14th St., NW).

The Dance Trance Moves to Prevent Cancer Event is open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Sarah Spear Sands at (202) 288-2268 or email Sarah@dancetrancefitness.com.

Team Friends for Prevention at the 2011 Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k

The Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k teams are hitting the ground running with some impressive fundraising! With less than a month to go, the competition is heating up as the weather begins to cool down.  Here is a “snapshot” of the leading individual and team fundraisers:

Individual Fundraisers

1. Allison Hutchins
2. Kelli Hambleton
3. Marcia Carlucci
4. Grant Allen
5. Sarah Stettinius

Fundraising Teams

1. All in Against Cancer
2. Cancer Conquerors
3. Team C-Line
4. Team Cindy Lee
5. Carlucci Crusaders

Team Carlucci Crusaders with MC Chili Amar and Foundation President and Founder Bo Aldigé at the 2011 Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k

These participants aren’t just fundraising for bragging rights. They are raising funds to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. As an added bonus, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is awarding a number of awesome prizes to the top individual fundraisers and fundraising teams. The top individual fundraiser will receive the grand prize, a treadmill desk from our Exclusive Fitness Partner, LifeSpan Fitness. The top fundraising team will receive a 10 person catered dinner from Windows Catering in Old Town Alexandria.

Don’t forget that each individual who raises more than $1,500 by 5pm on September 14, 2012 will be entered to win 2 diamond club tickets to the Nationals vs Phillies game on October 2 at 7:05 pm.

Take steps to save lives today. Create or Join a Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k team. The clock is ticking!

Thankfully, the cancer was removed, and my dad has been healthy and cancer-free ever since. However, I made a vow to myself that day when I sat down with my parents – one that I have pushed myself to recommit to every year on the anniversary of my dad’s surgery. I vow to always use sunscreen, to stay away from tanning beds, to get regular check ups, to monitor all aspects of the health of my own body, and to encourage and motivate others in any way possible to do all of the same things.

The Cancer Conquerors at the 2011 Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k

With the help of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, I have been able to stay true to the last part of my vow for the past four years. My dad was asked to join the Foundation’s board of directors in 2009, but our family first became familiar with the organization almost 10 years earlier. We increased our involvement after my dad’s cancer surgery, and we actively participated in all of their events and fundraisers. In 2010 I created my first 5k team. The team consisted of my dad, a family friend, two of my college roommates, and me. While our team may have been small, our message was big.

We spread the word to as many people as we could, talking about why we were running and why cancer prevention and education are essential to staying healthy and staying alive. I have continued these efforts with my dad over the years, and last fall, our team, the Cancer Conquerors, was able to raise almost $5,000 and ranked second in fundraising for the whole event.

Allison with her dad Don Hutchins

The annual 5k is a truly great way to bring family, coworkers, friends, and even strangers together for two incredibly important things: education and prevention. While it has always provided a great excuse for me to get in shape, it never fails to also be an inspiring and motivational experience that I look forward to every year. It is incredible to be a part of something so powerful, and to spend a morning surrounded by those that have either faced cancer themselves, or are there in support of those that have.

The 5k has made me realize how important and how easy it is to spread the word about education and prevention, and how much of a difference sharing knowledge about both can be. After all, thanks to early detection, every September I am able to watch my healthy dad complete 3.1 miles and cross the Prevent Cancer Foundation finish line with a contagious smile on his face.

Remember in my last blog post how I said that you can all be heroes by registering to be a team captain for our Prevent Cancer 5K Walk at Nationals Park? Well, I used my puppy-dog eyes to get an interview with one of our returning heroes, two-time team captain Karen Sfanos of Team Prostate!

Karen is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the De Marzo Laboratory in the Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology. Last year, Karen assembled a team of fellow researchers, family and friends to create Team Prostate.

What is Team Prostate’s inspiration?

“The Prevent Cancer Foundation has been very instrumental in supporting cancer research efforts at Johns Hopkins and throughout the country,” said Karen.  “The Prevent Cancer Foundation 5K Walk seemed like a great way for us to show our appreciation for the great work that the Foundation does and help to raise valuable funds.  Plus, it’s a great time!”

This year, Team Prostate is returning with “pawsitively” barking enthusiasm!

“Our goal [this year] is to beat our fundraising efforts from last year. We hope to be a top 5 team and recruit an even larger team this year,” said Karen.

When I asked her to give you humans her best advice for a first-time team captain, Karen said: “Don’t be shy about fundraising!  You may be surprised by how many of your family and friends are happy to support you in such a great cause!”

Arf! Arf! What a great team captain!

And, if that work ethic doesn’t impress you, get this—Karen is due to have her second child a few weeks before the race! “We’re looking forward to the debut of our family of 4 in support of cancer prevention!!” she said.

Now that is what I call being a hero!

A special thanks to Karen Sfanos and Team Prostate. I can’t wait to see you on September 30th at Nationals Park!

Arf! Arf!
Wilson
2012 Pets for Prevention Pup

Melodie Barefield demonstrates LifeSpan Fitness Treadmill Desk

On August 4 the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted their first Game Night at  Nationals Park to promote cancer prevention, early detection and our upcoming 5k. More than 1,500 game attendees walked away with free giveaways and got an exclusive look at the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k’s grand prize, the LifeSpan Fitness Treadmill Desk.

The NL East division-leading Nationals beat the Miami Marlins with a 3-run lead. However, the baseball game was only part of the excitement as eager attendees tried to guess the number of Buddy Bracelets in a jar for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Clyde’s. Congratulations to D. Marie Collins whose guess of 455 bracelets was closest to the jar total of 447!

Prevent Cancer 5k Chair Katherine Kennedy promoting the event during the Prevent Cancer Foundation Nationals Game Night.

Prevent Cancer 5k Chairperson Katherine Kennedy, along with the Prevent Cancer Foundation staff, sported green attire in support of cancer prevention and early detection while giving away  “Love Baseball, Hate Cancer” buttons.

Thank you to all who participated in the Prevent Cancer Foundation Game Night, make sure you check out http://www.preventcancer5k.org to register for the Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k and visit our Facebook page to see more pictures from Game Night!

Now, you might ask, “A dog with a blog? How can he type?!” You humans tend to underestimate us puppies. You see, we watch you. After 5 years of sitting on my human-mom’s lap while she was trying to get work done, I finally taught myself the keystrokes that magically turned into messages that humans respond to! Impressive I know.

Wilson shares the Pets for Prevention message with Alex (right).

Your next question may be, “Wilson, there are so many cute dogs out there!  How did you get to be the Pets for Prevention Pup?” My answer to that would be simple, my human friends—have you looked at me? I’m only the cutest, fluffiest, healthiest pup in the greater DC Metro Area! And since my human-mom kept talking about last year’s 5K Walk at West Potomac Park, I wanted to get in on the action for this year and keep my human active and making sure she is doing things to help Stop Cancer Before It Starts!

Then I thought to myself one day during a relaxing belly rub, “Why just help my human-mom when I could use my unending charm and charisma to help other humans too?”  So, I’m going to paw entries in this blog for all of you humans out there! With my tips and advice leading up to the 5K Walk, we will Take Steps and Save Lives together! (Even though one of your steps is like eight of mine.) The first step is to register for the Prevent Cancer 5k Walk.

I am also calling on my fellow pets to come out for the Prevent Cancer 5k. You dogs, cats, or iguanas can all walk to support life saving cancer prevention research, education, advocacy and community outreach.

Arf! Arf!

Wilson
2012 Pets for Prevention Pup

Editor’s Note: A noted canine in the Washington DC metro area, Wilson enjoys long walks, fire hydrants and barking at squirrels.

2012 5k Walk Committee Chair Katherine Kennedy (right) and Prevent Cancer Foundation's President and Founder Bo Aldigé at the 2011 5k.

Katherine recently shared with us why she is so involved with the Prevent Cancer Foundation and why cancer prevention is important to her:

“Being active in the Prevent Cancer Foundation community is important to me because educating my peers about the preventable cancers and empowering them to do self-exams is how I will keep lasting friendships…sharing information and being involved is an easy way for me to help “Stop Cancer Before It Starts!” and hopefully keep my friends healthy and around for a a very long time.”

The Prevent Cancer Foundation 2012 5K FUNdraising Walk will be held on Sunday, September 30 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.  It is a family and pet-friendly event with more than five hundred participants expected to attend this year.

Get involved, start your own 5K team in honor or in memory of a loved one affected by cancer, together we can Stop Cancer Before It Starts! Registration is now open. Go to preventcancer5k.org to sign-up today!

Learn more about the Foundation’s cancer prevention and early detection mission by visiting our website.