News
Emerson Hospital holds 5K Run-Walk for Cancer on June 8, 2008
(CONCORD, Mass., April 7, 2008)--Emerson Hospital will hold its annual 5K Run-Walk for Cancer on June 8, 2008, starting at 10:00 am at the Concord Health Care Center at the corner of Route 2 across from Emerson. The event is sponsored by the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary. This year, thanks to generous sponsor Margo’s Hair & Body Design, located in Acton, Mass., 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Bethke Cancer Center at Emerson.
“The annual Run-Walk for Cancer is a real community event,” said Lori Noonan, director of cancer services at Emerson Hospital. “People enjoy doing something to directly benefit our cancer patients. So many community members have been touched by this disease and this is a very tangible way to help those who are affected. We are hoping for another record turnout.”
Money raised from the Run-Walk supports cancer programs at Emerson Hospital. For former patient and Run-walk participant Anne Bisson, who lives in Sudbury, that’s a cause worthy of lacing up her sneakers. She credits the skillful and compassionate care of Bethke’s staff with speeding her recovery. “I received my chemotherapy at Dana-Farber in Boston,” said Bisson. “Knowing that radiation therapy was a daily appointment, I could not face the commute to Boston each day for six weeks. The single best quality about Emerson’s care is the staff. They were absolutely fabulous! Their attitude was contagious. Because patients had the same time slot each day for their treatment, I saw the same people every day. Everyone was friendly and looked after one another. The staff at Bethke are the most caring group of individuals that I encountered during all of my treatments. Each aspect of the treatment was thoughtfully executed, from the mapping to the actual treatments. I know that I received the best care without having to face the long, difficult commute to Boston.”
Acton resident and breast cancer survivor Barbie Clark will also participate in the Run-Walk accompanied by the reason for her recovery: her daughters. “When my daughter Molly was only three months old, I discovered a lump in my breast,” said Clark. “At that moment, my life changed. Because of Molly, I knew that I had to do anything in my power to save my life. My two daughters are an integral part of my story. My newborn daughter Molly made the need to survive so much more urgent. I live in Acton, so Emerson is very close to my home. However, I would never choose a hospital based solely on convenience--especially when you are fighting for your life. I went into Boston for a second opinion. When the doctors reviewed my records and the proposed plan of treatment, they said that there was absolutely nothing that they could offer me over and above what I would receive at Emerson. I chose Emerson, and I never had a second thought. When I first met my oncologist, Dr. DuBois, he was so kind. He kept calling me by name, and he always looked me right in the eye as he carefully explained everything. When my radiation treatments ended, my relationship with Dr. Schoenthaler didn’t. I had been told that I would not be able to have any more children following my treatments—that it was too risky. Dr. Schoenthaler didn’t accept that and helped me explore my options. Today, Molly is 9 1/2 and my beautiful, miracle daughter Jillian is turning seven.”
The Bethke Cancer Center, ranked in the top 1% for patient satisfaction across all surveyed Massachusetts cancer centers, was founded at Emerson Hospital in 1997, offering expert, state-of-the-art treatment and cancer care in a comfortable setting. By partnering with Massachusetts General Hospital, and collaborating with Commonwealth Hematology/Oncology, the Center provides high-quality treatment and technology. The Bethke Cancer Center offers outpatient services in hematology, medical oncology and radiation oncology.
The Emerson Hospital Auxiliary supports the hospital through community awareness, health-related education and fundraising activities.
Runner and walker registration will be $20 per person ($25 day of the event). Children under 12 may participate at no cost. T-shirts are available on the day of the Run-Walk or they can be picked up prior to the event. Registration forms for the walk can be found here or by contacting Diane Chellis at 978-287-3001.