2016 Parkway Run & Walk Raises $1,151,423.33

The 2016 Parkway Run & Walk raised over $1 million to support childhood cancer research and care at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Held on Sept. 25, thousands of supporters — including families, friends, neighbors, teachers, doctors, nurses, local business leaders and more — participated, many in honor or memory of a CHOP patient. 98.1 WOGL’s Valerie Knight and 94 WIP’s Michael Barkann served as this year’s event emcees.

Held every September, the Parkway Run & Walk is the largest annual fundraiser for the Cancer Center at CHOP, an internationally recognized leader in pediatric cancer treatment and research. Each year, the Center treats more than 550 newly diagnosed children.

“The extraordinary success of the Parkway Run & Walk is a tribute to the dedication and incredible support of the entire CHOP community, as well as our neighbors in Philadelphia and beyond,” said Stephen Hunger, MD, Chief of the Division of Oncology and Director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “To see the community come together for one day and for one cause is remarkable. Many of the teams are focused on, and include, children being treated for cancer at CHOP, but it is particularly poignant to see teams who participate in memory of a child who has passed away. This underscores our mission to work hard every day to cure this disease.”

Patients and families come to CHOP from around the globe to receive the best pediatric cancer care from some of the world’s top clinicians. Not only are CHOP’s oncologists providing the most advanced treatments for pediatric cancers, they are also working every day to develop new therapies, as well as addressing the late effects of cancer treatment felt by those who have won their fight.

A hallmark event, the Parkway Run & Walk is a poignant finale as part of the Cancer Center’s efforts to raise funds and awareness during September’s National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, thousands of participants converge on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, many with signs and T-shirts dedicated to children in the community who have been diagnosed with cancer. It is a time of celebration and reflection, and an opportunity to reconnect with the doctors, nurses and staff from the Cancer Center.

Although September is almost over, research to advance treatment for childhood cancer continues. Visit www.parkwayrun.org or www.chop.edu/cancer to learn the many ways you can become an advocate.

• Like the CHOP Cancer Center on Facebook.
• Follow the CHOP Cancer Center on Twitter.