By all appearances, Stars and Stripes Park on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 19, will look like the site of a running and walking event. At its heart, though, the event is a fight – a fight against cancer.
Raising money for cancer research is the focus of the fourth annual Putnam City Cancer Classic, which takes place Saturday, Nov. 19. The 5k race takes off at 8:30 a.m., while the fun run begins at 10 a.m. Both events start at Stars and Stripes Park on Portland Avenue just south of Lake Hefner.
“The event is more than a way to have fun and enjoy a bit of exercise. Everyone who participates is part of the fight against cancer and helps create hope for more people to live longer, healthier lives,” says Stephanie Treadway, the Wiley Post Elementary principal who chairs Putnam City’s annual cancer fund drive.
Registration
Registration for the 5k race is $25 if registering on or before Nov. 2 and $30 if registering after Nov. 2.
Registration for the 1-mile fun run is $10 if registering on or before Nov. 2 and $15 if registering after Nov. 2.
All runners and walkers who register for the event by Wednesday, Nov. 2, will receive a Putnam City Cancer Classic T-shirt for participating.
Runners and walkers can write on the wall of the event’s Facebook page and from there go on to register for a run and pay online.
For those who prefer hard copy registration forms, forms are available in the offices of all Putnam City schools and in the district's administration building. Hard copy forms may be completed and turned in, along with a check for the registration fee, to any Putnam City school office. Hard copy registration forms and checks for fees may also be mailed to Putnam City Cancer Classic, Wiley Post Elementary School, 6920 Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK, 73142.
Registration for both the 5k race and the 1-mile fun run will also take place the morning of the event. Registration tables will be set up from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Stars and Stripes Park.
Running in Honor of a Loved one
The Putnam City Cancer Classic this year is giving participants a way to honor loved ones who have battled cancer. For a sponsorship donation of $35, the name of a loved one will be printed on the event’s T-shirts. This option is open to the first 100 people who request and pay for a sponsorship donation. Multiple donations in honor of one person will be treated as additional donations for cancer research.
Packet Pickup
The best time for runners and walkers to pick up their packets is two days before the event. A packet pickup time is set for 1 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, in the East Conference Room of the Putnam City Schools Administration Building, 5401 N.W. 40th.
Participants may also pick up their packets the morning of the event at Stars and Stripes Park.
Proceeds to Cancer Research
As is the case with all activities that are part of Putnam City’s Cancer Fund Drive, proceeds from the Putnam City Cancer Classic Proceeds go to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF).
Since 1975 Putnam City has worked with the OMRF in the battle against cancer. To date, Putnam City students, parents and staff have raised more than $2.9 million to support OMRF’s cancer research efforts. Putnam City’s donations have purchased a vast array of sophisticated laboratory equipment, including centrifuges, microscopes and incubators, and also established an endowed chair at OMRF, the Putnam City Schools Chair in Cancer Research. The Putnam City Schools Chair is held by OMRF scientist Linda Thompson, Ph.D., whose work helped create OncoVue, the first genetic-based cancer risk test relevant to all women.
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For More Information
Steve Lindley, Communications Director
(405) 495-5200, x1204
(405) 812-6119
slindley@putnamcityschools.org