Source: BDN Maine / Nick McCrea
Survivors, families, researchers, nurses and others affected by cancer came together Saturday to raise money that they hope will save more lives.
“We’re here for the patients for whom treatment has failed, as well as to celebrate with those it’s helped,” said Allen L’Italien, executive director ofEastern Maine Medical Center Cancer Care.
More than 2,600 people registered to take part in the event, with more signing up Saturday morning. They walked, ran, biked and joined motorcycle motorcades to raise an estimated $592,000 toward local cancer research efforts. That’s still short of this year’s goal of $650,000.
This was the seventh year of the EMMC Champion the Cure Challenge, and it has grown significantly since its start, according to Jennifer Lloyd, philanthropy officer with the EMMC Foundation.
Lloyd is a breast cancer survivor herself.
“Eleven years later, I’m still here,” Lloyd said. “And I want that same opportunity for every patient.”