Cancer Connection’s 25th annual Beat the Odds – A Race Against Cancer was held on Aug. 20. It was an encouraging sight to behold over 400 men, women and children coming together in support of Cancer Connection.
We would like to thank the community of Juneau for making our Beat the Odds 5K run / two mile walk a great success. Neighbor helping neighbor at its finest.
We had incredible support from the business community and would like to gratefully thank our sponsors and supporters for their contributions.
Our sponsors: Alaska Airlines, Alaskan Outdoor Wearhouse & Embroidery, Anchor Electric, Bartlett Regional Hospital Foundation, Bartlett Regional Hospital, Baxter Bruce & Sullivan, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Elgee Rehfeld Mertz LLC, GCI, Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific-Alaska, Juneau Radio Center, Juneau Obstetrics & Gynecology, KATH-TV, K3 Radio, Kristan Stephens – general contractor, Longaberger – Northern Lights Team Juneau, McDonald’s, Nugget Alaskan Outfitters (NAO), Printing Trade Company, RE/MAX of Juneau, Solorad, LLC – Dr. Steve Strickler, Southeast Medical Clinic, Southeast Radiation Oncology Center, Southeast Sleep Center, Super Bear IGA, Valley Medical Care, Valley Paint Center, and Wells Fargo.
Our supporters: AK Commercial Contractors, Inc.; Foggy Mountain; The Alaska Club; Pavitt Health & Fitness; Kristel Liska of The Grind Coffee Company; and United Way.
We generously received donations for door prizes from: Alaska Airlines, Alaska Fudge Company, Chef Stef, Columbia Sportswear, Eaglecrest, Heritage Coffee Roasting Co., Foggy Mountain, Glacier Gardens, Gourmet Alaska, Juneau Artists Gallery, KC, Longaberger – Northern Lights Team Juneau/Colleen Torrence, Mark Kelley Photography, NAO, Pavitt’s Health & Fitness, Roy’s Custom Embroidery, Safeway, Shoefly, The Alaska Club and TLC Massage – Traci Gilmour. We must not forget all the quality socks donated by Fox River that went to all pre-registered Cancer Survivors.
An event such as this is only possible through the help of many, many volunteers before, during and after the day of event. We thank those special folks from Elgee Rehfeld Mertz (Theresa Harris, Sarah Griffith, Zack Stetson, Jasper MacNaughton, Shurisa Steed and Joe Steed) who flawlessly handled the flurry of registration, Cathy Tide & all her fearless team of race timers (Ann-Marie Martin, April Rezendes, Becca Parks, Dave Thomson, Jennifer Watson, Jim Grammel, Keeley Kent, Liz Johnston, Marsha Squires, Randy Peterson, Sandi Woods, Sandi Pahlke, Shawn Miller, Mike McKrill and Michael Schuler), Charlene Morrison and T-shirt rolling team (Brooke Gunstrom, Trevor Daniels, Christine Urata, Lorie Daniels, Niki Menze, Kristen Starbird, Annette Link, Teresa Robinson, Kelley Gottschlich and Deb Rodrigues), Emily Ricci – our guest speaker, Cancer Connection Board Members (Tish Satre, Ruth Johnson, Chris Urata, Mark Mickelson, Charmaine Weeks, Emily Ricci and Eileen Hosey), extra hands wherever needed (Fred Schmitz, Steve Johnson, Scott and Shannon Wellman, Charlie Williams, Kevin Mitchell, Cathy Jeans, Janel and Shalane Saceda and many other individuals who stepped in where help was needed). We were also blessed to have Kevin Gullufsen onsite to capture great moments on camera as well as the incredible coverage in the Juneau Empire.
Funds raised from this event stay right here in Southeast Alaska giving assistance to those dealing with cancer and their families. We also sponsor education programs and awareness events with the intent of prevention and early detection of cancer.
Thank you Juneau… See you at next year’s Beat the Odds event.
Jody Schmitz,
Officer manager,
Cancer Connection
