By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
PITTSFIELD, Ill. -- Teams and individuals are busy training, getting in shape to run and walk to fight an often ferocious enemy.
The third annual Miles for Myeloma 5K Walk/Run takes place Saturday, Sept. 6, at Lake Pittsfield. Registration by Saturday guarantees participants a T-shirt from the event raising research funds to battle the incurable blood cancer.
"You go out to the lake, get together with friends and family and have a beautiful walk," said Cathy Ervin, who is co-chairman of the event along with Ann Moffit. "What's easier than that to help out a worthy cause? Everyone has someone close to them who has dealt with cancer in one way or another."
The noncompetitive walk/ competitive run offers a $100 prize for overall male and female winners, with medals awarded for male and female winners in seven age divisions. Raffle tickets are available for a quilt hand-crafted and donated by Michelle Welbourne and Nancy Halpin.
New this year is a team competition that Ervin said is not about who can run or walk the fastest. She said the names of team members will be put in a drawing for $75 to go to a favorite charity.
Proceeds go to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to accelerate the search for a cure.
"It's designated for cancer research in that area; however, we all know that research benefits other cancers, and not just other cancers, but other diseases in general," said Ervin, who was diagnosed eight years ago with multiple myeloma. "It takes work. It takes money. Those of us that are able, this is just what we have to do."
Multiple myeloma is a less common cancer but a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The disease is more commonly found in older people but is on the rise in younger people.
"As we take better care of ourselves, people are more apt to get medical attention when something seems wrong, which leads to earlier diagnosis and better treatment options," Ervin said.
"It's kind of a snowball effect. Because you're diagnosed with something that's a wake-up call, you need to take better care of yourself, get more exercise, watch your diet. That's all a part of good community health. Sometimes you get a second chance."
-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379
