I wish that I still lived in Da Bronx
Michelle
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NEW YORK -- On the same field where the Yankees celebrated their 27th World
Series championship, thousands of runners and walkers gathered on Sunday
for their own victory lap in the fight against cancer.
More than 2,500 participants took to Yankee Stadium's concourses, ramps,
stairs and the playing field for the first annual Damon Runyon 5K for
Cancer Research, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to fund continuing
research to a cure for cancer.
Adapting Yankee Stadium into a course where five kilometers could be safely
run was a time-consuming task, said Catherine Bright, the director of
communications at the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. But with
more than $250,000 raised on Sunday, it was well worth the effort.
"There were a lot of challenges. It took a while to work the route out, and
it was a lot of working with the Yankees' event staff," Bright said. "We
worked very closely with them, and they've been wonderful with providing
security and helped a lot. Logistically, it took quite a bit to put
together, but now we've got something that we can use next year."
Aged 5 to 72, participants gathered in the Great Hall and were released
into the Stadium for the challenging, innovative race in 15-minute waves,
completing two laps around the 100 level concourse before descending to the
sub-zero level, exiting on the warning track and lapping the field twice.
From there, it was a 103-step climb to the 200 level concourse, and after
spanning the length of that deck, it was up another 64 steps to the 300
level concourse. After a lap, participants descended the ramps to the Great
Hall and repeated the loops of the 200 and 300 levels again -- stairs
included -- before finally finishing near the Gate 6 entrance.
"The look on the faces of the kids as they ran around the warning track was
fabulous," said Lorraine W. Egan, executive director of the Damon Runyon
Cancer Research Foundation.�"The look on their parents' faces was even
better.
"We'd like to send a huge thanks to everyone who came.� Our promise to
everyone who raised money is that every penny will go to the best young
scientists in cancer research today. "
Of course, reminders of the Yankees' still-fresh World Series title were
obvious. The manually operated scoreboards in left-center and right-center
field were frozen with the final score from Game 6 -- Yankees 7, Phillies 3
-- and the field looked Major League-ready, with the exception of a few
stray puddles.
This being New York, Yankees gear was a popular choice among runners, who
donned World Series T-shirts and even authentic game jerseys for their dash
through the Stadium. Some wore blue bibs honoring loved ones' fights with
cancer, and at least one runner used his to remember Bobby Murcer, the
popular former Yankees player and broadcaster who lost his battle last July.
Named for former New York sportswriter Damon Runyon, the foundation was
created in 1946 following his passing from cancer. Since its founding, the
foundation has raised more than $220 million to fund 3,200 of the best and
brightest scientists in the country. The registration fee was $35 for
students and children and $50 for adults.
Columbia scientist Esteban Mazzoni focuses his efforts on stem cell
research and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou
Gehrig's disease. He said that one benefit of events like Sunday's 5K is
that it raises awareness among the general public about what is hoped to be
accomplished through research funding.
"It's great. I think we as scientists do a lousy job communicating what we
do," Mazzoni said. "Damon Runyon is doing a great job and they should
receive credit for that. One of the pluses of these events is hopefully
that the message comes across."
Comfortable in her surroundings despite wearing a pink Phillies cap, Yale
scientist Kristina Herbert said that science funding has become
increasingly difficult to receive.
"Every time I come to one of these events and see where the money is coming
from, I feel like I have to go back to the lab and work a little harder,"
Herbert said. "It's good motivation."
Runners and walkers all had the opportunity to see themselves on Yankee
Stadium's center-field camera, and many stopped along the warning track to
pose next to the dugouts and snap photos. One participant, Sarah Davis,
couldn't wait to log onto Twitter and text the message: "That was truly an
awesome experience. Nothing else like it."
"Anecdotally, from everyone I've spoken to, everyone has had a great time,"
Bright said. "Of course, everyone loves the warning track, but I also think
people enjoy exploring different parts of the Stadium. It was a 5K that was
a bit different."
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26.2 Because I can
pithydoug
Sounds like a great race for good cause. That said I was born in the
Da Bronx and have zero urge to go ever back. We take the train a few
times a year to catch a Broadway show and a meal but in stay in
Manhattan.
-D