By Morris Malakoff, JTNews Correspondent
There is no shortage of things to do on a summer Sunday in Seattle.
On July 26, thousands of people will choose to use that day to go for a run or a walk with a purpose. They will be soaking up the sun and getting in a few hours of exercise on behalf of the effort to find a cure for ovarian cancer.
Now in its 15th year, the Swedish SummeRun is dedicated to raising money for the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. According to Clint Burwell, executive director of the center, even in a struggling economy, registrations are running ahead of last year’s record 3,500 participants. He said the Swedish SummeRun has become the third largest running event in the city.
“While we don’t know the amount of money that will be raised yet, participation appears to be headed for another record,” he said. “Last year we raised more than half a million dollars.”
This year’s event has a 10k/5k run as well as a 5k walk.
“Many people do the run,” Burwell said, “but most of the participants do the walk. They walk as families, friends and teams. It is festive with the feel of a rolling party to it.”
Teams are made up five or more individuals who may be friends, co-workers, or any other affiliation that binds them together. A number of teams with a Jewish affiliation have been formed for this year’s event including Team Herzl, Team Ezra Bessaroth, Team SHA, Team Northwest Yeshiva High School and Team Capitol Hill Minyan.
Those wish to help out by pledging to support a team can do so on-line at www.summerun.org. The SummeRun also has a Facebook page.
The run begins and ends at the intersection of Madison and Marion Streets near Swedish Hospital’s main campus. Both the 10k and 5k courses wind around the Capitol Hill’s Broadway district, with the 10k extending further north to Interlaken near the Seattle Hebrew Academy.
Afterward, there is a ceremony to recognize ovarian cancer survivors, present prizes to winners of the running events, those raising the largest amounts of money and more.
There will be prizes, music and informational booths operated by various non-profits as well, according to Burwell.
The post-run event will be emceed by former “Evening Magazine” television host John Curley.
The Rivkin Center was founded 13 years ago and facilitates not only scientific and medical research around the country aimed specifically at ovarian cancer, but also supports community screening events and fostering educational efforts.
Seattle oncologist Dr. Saul Rivkin founded the center in honor of his late wife Marsha to “save lives and reduce suffering through improved treatment, early detection and prevention of ovarian cancer.”
The run actually predates the founding of the Rivkin Center by two years. It is still fully supported financially by the Swedish Medical Center Foundation.
“The foundation put in the seed money for the event and still underwrites all the costs of the event,” Burwell said, “so every dollar raised, whether it is through entry fees or direct donations goes to the work of the Rivkin Center.”