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- ON THE MOVE — More than 448 area residents turned out Saturday morning to run or walk in the Pat Cambell Fighting Cancer 5K Run in Toronto. Organized by Crossroads North River Church, the event raised about $23,000 for the Cancer Dietary Initiative, a Steubenville-based charity that provides food to the families of local residents battling cancer. — Warren Scott
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- ON THE MOVE — More than 448 area residents turned out Saturday morning to run or walk in the Pat Cambell Fighting Cancer 5K Run in Toronto. Organized by Crossroads North River Church, the event raised about $23,000 for the Cancer Dietary Initiative, a Steubenville-based charity that provides food to the families of local residents battling cancer. — Warren Scott
ON THE MOVE — More than 448 area residents turned out Saturday morning to run or walk in the Pat Cambell Fighting Cancer 5K Run in Toronto. Organized by Crossroads North River Church, the event raised about $23,000 for the Cancer Dietary Initiative, a Steubenville-based charity that provides food to the families of local residents battling cancer. — Warren Scott
TORONTO — More than 448 area residents ran or walked 5 kilometers of city streets Saturday morning, helping to raise about $23,000 for a local charity that provides food to cancer patients.
More than $1,000 of that amount came from an Irish blessings gift basket drawing held by members of Crossroads North River Church, who organized the event and invited participants and spectators to fill a city police cruiser with nonperishable food to be distributed by the Cancer Dietary Initiative.
The Steubenville-based charity provides food to the families of area residents battling cancer.
Galen Wade, who coordinates the race with his wife, Tambi, expressed thanks to local businesses, fellow church members and many others who donated items for the drawings and to the race’s many participants.
Runner and walkers of all ages made their way from the start line near the church on North River Avenue to the south end of the city and back.
ON THE MOVE — More than 448 area residents turned out Saturday morning to run or walk in the Pat Cambell Fighting Cancer 5K Run in Toronto. Organized by Crossroads North River Church, the event raised about $23,000 for the Cancer Dietary Initiative, a Steubenville-based charity that provides food to the families of local residents battling cancer. — Warren Scott
Most shrugged off a light rainfall and distant thunder and lightning that occurred soon after they set out.
Wade said he and other organizers were thankful for the recent spate of warm weather that likely helped encourage participation.
It’s the first of four races held annually in the Gem City, each for a charitable cause, and it’s not unusual for it to be accompanied by snow, rain or at least, colder temperatures.
In its 15th year, the race is held on a weekend close to St. Patrick’s Day because its namesake, William Pat Campbell, was born on the holiday and was quite proud of his Irish heritage.
The local attorney and Navy veteran fought non-Hodgkins lymphoma before succumbing to a heart attack in 2009.
The Wades and others encouraged runners and walkers to wear kilts or dress in green, and helping to launch the race were performances by a bagpiper and a Steubenville-area band, IchThUS, which donned kilts or green for the occasion.
The Toronto American Legion Post 45 color guard was on hand as the national anthem was performed by the band’s lead singer, Patrick Lancaster.
Toronto Police, staff with the TEMS Joint Ambulance District and the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club also were on hand to assist.
David Campbell said he was overjoyed to see the race continue in memory of his father.
“It’s really a testament to Crossroads North River Church in how they’ve picked this up and kept it going and really to the community. It says everything about this community.”
Among many participants coming from outside the city were Christina Leas of Bloomingdale, who was walking with her friend, Carole Hood-Rodsky of Bergholz and Leas’ husband, Darrin, who was running in it.
“We participated last year. We like to stay active and it’s a good cause,” said Leas.
She and Hood-Rodsky said like many, they’ve had family members who were diagnosed with cancer.
Among the many Torontonians on hand was Dave Kelly, who said, “I do it every year. I pretty much run every weekend. I was in a run in St. Petersburg, Fla., last Saturday.”
Participants in Saturday’s race who go on to take part in three other Toronto races will receive medals noting they have completed the Gem City Quadfecta Challenge.
The three others are: The Biasi-Shuma 5K Run Walk, which is held in July and benefits the Ohio Valley Heart Association and Jefferson County United Way; the Louann Burchfield/Kathy Hannan Hale Colors of Cancer Memorial 5K, which is held in August and also supports cancer patients; and the T-Town Turkey Trot, which is held early Thanksgiving Day and benefits the Helping Hands Food Pantry.
