News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Runners head out on the Crush Cancer half-marathon.
More than 150 runners turned out at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards on Saturday with a mission: to crush cancer like a wine grape.
The fourth annual 2016 Crush Cancer 5k, 10k & Half Marathon Event kicked off on a pleasant fall morning at the vineyard off Lower Bridge Way.
Proceeds from the race benefit Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
"Our daughter-in-law Summer got cancer five-and-a-half years ago," vineyard owner Cindy Grossman explained. "She got her treatment at Seattle Cancer Institute. We learned so much about Fred Hutch."
The organization researches new ways for early cancer detection, develops effective treatments with fewer side effects, studies how to prevent cancers from growing in the first place, and much more. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center provides research and information that benefits many people in the Pacific Northwest, including local medical facilities. For more information visit FredHutch.org.
Previous years' events raised $3,000 to $4,000, and this year's was expected to exceed those numbers.
This was the first year for the half-marathon. The course was all off-road, wending its way through the farmland and canyons east of Sisters.
Dozens of volunteers helped the event run smoothly. Wine club members helped check runners in, and made sure they got their goodies and plenty of food and water when they finished. Course volunteers were provided by the Oregon Youth Challenge program of the Oregon National Guard.
"They're awesome," Grossman said. "this is our fourth year using them."
The weather was perfect, the views magnificent and spirits high as runners - many of whom were dedicating their run to someone who has battled cancer - tested themselves, knowing that their efforts are bringing their community one step closer to crushing cancer.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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