Runners, walkers and even strollers will come together for a good cause on Nov. 5 at the ninth annual Putnam City Cancer Classic.
For the past 41 years, the Putnam City Schools have partnered with OMRF to fight cancer. For nearly a decade, the PC Cancer Classic has played a key role in these fundraising efforts.
“This event is going as strong as ever and it’s great for community outreach and bringing the entire district together,” said Putnam City physical education coordinator Jason Hasty, who created the event in 2008. “Typically when Putnam City schools get together, it’s in a competition. This is one of the things that unifies all 19,500 kids and 2,000 teachers and staff in our district.”
The event will feature two races to benefit research at the nonprofit biomedical research institute. First up is a 5K beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a one-mile fun run beginning at 10. For the third straight year, Wheeler Park will serve as the venue along the Oklahoma River just south of I-40 and Western.
The fun run is $15 per person and the 5k is $30. All participants will receive an event t-shirt. You can also donate if you are not participating in the runs.
“This isn’t just for Putnam City, either. This is for anyone who wants to come out, get some exercise, have some fun and support a great cause,” said Hasty. “We all have been touched by cancer in some way and this is something we can all rally behind.”
Since 1975, PC Schools have donated more than $3.4 million to OMRF. In addition to funding research and supplies, the cancer drive established the Putnam City Schools Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research at OMRF, held by Linda Thompson, Ph.D. This has assisted with numerous breakthroughs, including research from Thompson’s lab leading to the world’s first genetic-based risk assessment test for breast cancer.
To register online or find additional details, please visit www.pccancerclassic.com.
