Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation (www.giftoflife.org) will hold its Fifth Annual Walk for Life on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 pm.
Walk for Life (www.giftoflife.org/bocawalk) is $30 for advanced registration, and $35 the day of the event. Students can participate for just $15. This is a Certified 5K Race with AccuChip timing and runners and walkers at all levels are encouraged to participate in this family friendly event. There will be a one-mile fun run, as well.
A highly unique aspect of this event includes the introduction – for the very first time – of a donor and a bone marrow transplant recipient. Over a year ago, the recipient, a 12 year old girl diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia underwent a transplant. She was matched with a 28 year old male whom she has never met. The two will meet for the first time at 8:45 the morning of the event and, together, will kickoff the run/walk at 9 a.m.
“This is one of the most powerful moments some people may experience in their lifetime,” said Marti Freund, Public Affairs Manager. “The annual walk is a critical fundraising initiative for Gift of Life, but the best part is getting to witness such a beautifully emotional scene when the donor and the recipient meet face-to-face for the first time.”
Walk for Life is the only 5k event in South Florida that is solely dedicated to raising awareness for bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants. Gift of Life uses funds raised at the Walk for Life to add new donors to the worldwide bone marrow registry. Registering just one volunteer donor through a simple swab process costs $60. Every year, 100 percent of all net proceeds raised at the Walk are used to add new donor to the worldwide bone marrow registry. The 2014 fundraising goal is $80,000. Sponsorships are available.
Committee members include Jill Goldsmith, Jessica Offir, Bella Singer, Wendy Schulman, Dana Zalaznick, Donna Krasner, Ellen Postrel, Cliff Edelmann, Susan Arnold, Shawna Camilleri.
For more information on the event, sponsorships, or to register, please contact Marti Freund at 561.923.0993 or mfreund@giftoflife.org.
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