Emily's Rainbow Run: Taking a step to cure childhood cancer

The fight against childhood cancer continues. Every day forty-six children in this country will be diagnosed. That is two classrooms full. With an overall cure rate of only 80 percent, ten of them will lose their battle.

In addition, twenty-two of them will suffer long-term health issues due to the effect of aggressive cancer treatments. Last year, only 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s budget was used to fund pediatric cancer research and in the last twenty years the FDA has approved only one new drug used in battling childhood cancers.

Emily’s Rainbow Run & Family Walk started in 2009 as a way for us to honor and celebrate a young cancer patient, Emily Lewis, while generating much needed funds to research pediatric cancers. Last year’s event featured over 850 adults and children running or walking and 125 volunteers. 

Together we raised $30,000 to benefit pediatric cancer research at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital! With efforts from businesses and personal fundraising, we have been able to donate over $68,000 to pediatric cancer research in the last three years.

This year’s must-attend run and walk will be held on Sunday, April 29, at Westlake High School, in conjunction with the Westlake Kiwanis pancake breakfast. For more information or to register, visit www.emilysrainbowrun.org.

On behalf of Emily’s family I would like to take a moment to invite you to participate in this wonderful annual community event, the 4th Annual Emily’s Rainbow Run & Family Walk. We hope you will consider joining us this year as a participant and/or sponsor for the event and make a difference in saving the lives of children affected by cancer.

Together we can help give more children who are fighting cancer hope and the promise of future birthdays.