By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Westborough – The sixth annual Westborough Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk/Run will be held Sunday, April 12, at the Westboro Tennis & Swim Club. Proceeds from the race will go directly to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
The walk/run is personal for Maria Rydelek, a trainer at the club, who helped organize the event in 2010 after the death of her mother, Judy Blejwas, from pancreatic cancer. It was during her mother’s yearlong battle that Rydelek learned about the discomforting survival statistics of those diagnosed with the disease – 75 percent of all patients diagnosed will die within one year and survival beyond five years is just 6 percent. It was at this time, as well, that Rydelek knew that she would fight to raise awareness and much needed research funds.
“In September of 2009, my family and I started a walk in my mother’s name in New Jersey where my family lives,” Rydelek said. “After the success of the event I wanted to do something here in Massachusetts where I currently reside – and the Westborough Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk/Run was born.”
Helping Rydelek organize the event this year for what she estimates to be 600-650 runners are coworkers Angela Callery and Cheryl Labriola. Her family will be on hand to help and participate as well: her daughter, Chloe, 7, will participate in the kids’ fun run and then join her grandfather, aunts and uncles on the 5K walk; her husband, Dave, will be setting up and keeping watch of the race/walk route; Her father, Edwin, 83, will participate in the 5K walk; and her sister, Laura, and her husband will participate in the 5K walk and their children will participate in the 5K run.
Pre-registration for the event is $30. Registration at the event is $35 beginning at 8 a.m. The kids fun run begins at 9 a.m. At 9:15 a.m. will be the singing of the National Anthem followed by the race/walk at 9:30 a.m.
Medals will be awarded to the overall male and female runners.
Covidien, Dunkin’ Donuts and Wegmans will be sponsoring the event.
With the event growing each year, there is an urgent need for volunteers to help it run smoothly. Specifically, there is a need for people to help with set up, parking, registration, t-shirt distribution and race route cheering. In addition, there is a need for bikers to ride along the race route and people to help man water stations, set up and distribute food, greet racers and provide information, and help clean up.
To register or volunteer, visit www.2015westboroughwalkrun.kintera.org.