Participants were able to run or walk a 5K around the University Park Campus in Stockton, just south of the hospital.
Hundreds of runners and walkers, young and old, came out to participate, show their support, and donate.
There were mothers and fathers pushing strollers, children racing their siblings, and even a few four-legged friends who were a part of the action.
Volunteers were scattered around the race route, cheering as loudly and powerfully as they could for each participant as they passed.
The event wasn’t all fun and games but impact too, as proceeds go towards the medical center’s Cancer Institute.
“It (the Fun Run) has raised so much money, funding the cancer institute. It allows us to have programs like the wig bank, where we are able to help people who are going through chemotherapy and losing their hair. It is free to them; they can come in and try on the wigs,” said Arthur Hill, the institute’s director.
“The patients that are going through cancer have needs that aren’t just cancer (treatment), there’s other things, and we provide those programs to help them get through, so they have the strength to work through their recovery. But it’s all based on volunteer work, the foundation dollars, and donations that allow us to do that. The community has been very supportive of cancer care, and it’s allowed us to expand our service.”
This year’s Fun Run proceeds are going towards a Trident HD Breast Specimen Imaging System.
“This technology will enable us to image breast specimens in the operating room, which will let the surgeon know immediately if they removed all the tissue necessary for the patient,” according to the St. Joseph’s Foundation of San Joaquin website.
Donations to St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute will also be going towards a linear accelerator, making St. Joseph’s one of a handful of facilities in Northern California to have technology of this capacity.
“That same technology that they’re doing there (in the Bay Area), we’re going to be able to bring to our community, so it’s huge,” said Hill.
Teams and groups brought in thousands of dollars this year, with the top team raising over $9,000.
Last year the Fun Run brought in $71,000 to support St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute. This year fundraising has surpassed $91,000.
“Listen, everybody knows somebody who has had cancer, right? It touches just about everybody’s life, and knowing that when you come out and do something like this that you’re having an impact for those particular people and their recovery. And so just by signing up, the dollars that you donate, just for being able to participate, get the sticker on your back and walk, it all helps to contribute to that. It’s all of those little funds that grow into these big funds which allow us to do this,” said Hill.
We have all seen in some capacity how cancer can affect the ones we care about, and the St. Joseph’s Fun Run provides a way for people to feel more involved in the impact of cancer treatment.
Each year, participants are able to have a good day out with their friends and family, while also supporting their community.
If you couldn’t make it to the run this year, don’t worry, there’s always next year, and there are ways to donate to St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute.
If you want to donate, you can go to their website, click the donate button, and contribute. If you cannot donate money but can donate some of your time, the website also has ways to volunteer particular services or for events.