In 2005, 6ABC sportscaster Gary Papa joined the board of the Foundation for Breast & Prostate Health. Devoting his exceptional talents and energy to help the Prostate Health International division generate prostate cancer awareness, Gary became our spokesman and tirelessly worked to promote the Father’s Day Run 4 Your Life, serving as co-chairman during subsequent years.
Although Gary lost his own battle with prostate cancer in June 2009, we will continue to cherish his memory by renaming the race in his honor. We pledge to continue Gary’s mission to conquer this disease by promoting prostate cancer awareness and education as well as free screening for this disease for men in the Delaware Valley.
The original Run 4 Your Life was begun in 2003, following the formation of Prostate Health International as a division of the Foundation for Breast & Prostate Health. This annual run is held each Father’s Day at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Eakins Oval and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Philadelphia. The course is USA Track & Field certified with start and finish lines located a short distance from the museum steps.
Participation in this traditional Father’s Day race has grown from just over 500 runners in this inaugural year to over 2500 in 2009. We anticipate a major increase in this number in this inaugural year of the GARY PAPA RUN 4 YOUR LIFE. Registration/entry forms will be available at various locations throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the Delaware Valley. Additionally, runners may register on line at http://www.garypaparun4yourlife.com where they will also be able to e-mail their friends to make a pledge in their name, and where supporters may also make a donation.
We wish to thank all of the 2009 participants for making this year’s event our most successful to date. Through their efforts, we have raised over $150,000 to fight this disease.
2009 Awards
2009 Gary Papa Challenge
The $500 cash awards for the overall American male and female finishers was won by Michael McKeenan and Claire Duncan. Tom Haxton and Laura Onderko were each awarded the $200 second place prizes, and Patrick Wood and Abby Dean won the $100 third place prizes.
Individual and Team Awards
Jim Lafferty won the individual fund-raiser award by raising $4455.00 by his own efforts. The 6ABC Team Papa, with Jamie Apody as captain, was the overall team leader, with its 97 participants raising $24,233.00.
Thanks to you …
A portion of the 2009 total receipts has already been put to work. In September, 2009, Prostate Health International, in partnership with the Kimmel Cancer Center of Thomas Jefferson University, the Methodist division of Jefferson University Hospitals, and Hahnemann University Hospital held prostate cancer screening days, during which over 700 men underwent screening by PSA measurements and digital rectal examinations by volunteer physicians. Plans are already underway to expand the availability of screening days to other hospitals.
With your help...
We look forward to another record year in 2010. It is not too early to REGISTER NOW as an individual or to form and register a team (10 or more people).
PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THE 2010 GARY PAPA RUN 4 YOUR LIFE IS JUST A CLICK AWAY
http://www.garypaparun4yourlife.com