The Georgia Cancer Center will be hosting their fifth annual Unite in the Fight Against Cancer walk on Saturday, May 13, starting at 8 a.m.
Designed to bring the community together in a shared goal of raising awareness to all types of cancer, the center is hoping people will join in on the free event, and walk side by side with fellow cancer patients and survivors.
“There are many types of cancer, and each of us has a personal story of how we have been touched by at least one of them,” said Dr. Jorge Cortes, director of the Georgia Cancer Center. “This is why we host Unite in the Fight each year. It is our opportunity to honor cancer survivors and a chance to remember those we lost, while raising funds for projects to improve the patient experience.”
Funds raised by this event will go towards a multitude of programs at the center to support initiatives available to all cancer patients through the Unite in the Fight Against Cancer Fund. Examples of past funded projects include: a mental health initiative for cancer patients struggling with the impact of their illness, art supplies for pediatric patients receiving radiation therapy, funding for wigs or prostheses for self-pay breast cancer patients, tablets for movies or music for ease of treatment time in the hospital setting, and equipment which allows staff to better access a patient’s veins for IV fluids.
“The Georgia Cancer Center strives to meet the needs of patients from different communities across the state of Georgia and western South Carolina,” said Dr. J. Harold Harrison, MD and distinguished university chair in Medical Oncology at the Medical College of Georgia. “Following treatment, many patients ask us how they can get involved to help others going through a similar journey. This event is a way to engage patients, families and the surrounding communities for a sense of connection and awareness.”
The Unite in the Fight Against Cancer walk will take place from 8-11 a.m. at the Georgia Cancer Center’s M. Bert Storey Research Building, located at 1410 Laney Walker Blvd.
Additionally serving as a sort of facility wide tour, participants can register for the 1.5-mile walk and enjoy seeing the various departments connected to the center, such as research, hospital care, pediatric care, sickle cell care, infusion centers, radiation therapy and outpatient services.
Wanting to create an event that invited all cancer survivors to celebrate their victory or acknowledge their ongoing battle, Administrator and Chief of Staff at the Georgia Cancer Al Dallas said the cancer facility sought to join patients and families together for the purpose of fellowship, and making new meaningful connections.
“We wanted to address what we felt was a community need, and so the walk features different Unite in the Fight Against Cancer ribbon colors,” said Dallas. “We want people who are walking to adopt the associated color for a loved one’s or their own cancer … what I always hope to see is this kaleidoscope of colors out there – knowing that each one of those represents a person and their fight.”
Recuperating from an attendee decrease in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas also said the center is hoping for a dramatic increase in partakers in order to raise more funds to continue the assisting programs offered for cancer patients.
“This year I’m feeling good about hitting our $75,000 goal,” he said. “In fact, we have a real possibility of breaking our record for this event by $400 or $500. Folks here have really gotten enthused.”
While the walk honors cancer survivors, many participants will be walking in memory of a loved one or friend that passed away from cancer.
Former Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, who served nearly ten years and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer three weeks ago, said will be walking to raise funds for those less fortunate than him.
“I am so blessed to have a platform to help raise awareness and funds,” he said. “My prognosis is very good. It’s treatable and all my doctors are optimistic. I’ve got a strong family; I’m in good health, and so I know I’m going to beat this thing, but unfortunately not everyone is as blessed as I am. I’ve participated in this walk before, and I just want to provide encouragement and hope by raising funds to help people who might not be in the situation I’m in.”
As someone who has lost both his mother and brother to cancer, Copenhaver understands the struggles of those who suffer through treatment, and the family members that stick by them. Copenhaver has currently raised around $17,000 for the Unite in the Fight Against Cancer Fund, and is determined to raise at least $20,000 before the event is over.
“We deal with everything as a family, and it has been amazing to see the way the entire community has united around me and supported [my family],” he said. “My focus for nine years in office was building a stronger community, and when you go out to that walk you see our community. People want to say we’re a community divided, but we’re not. The chance to get to meet people from all over the place, from all walks of life, and say ‘look, I am in this with you, and we will beat this together.’ That’s the message I intend on sharing with people on Saturday.”
Participants can fellowship walking as a team with family and coworkers, or sign up as individuals and meet new friends. This walk is designed to be inclusive for everyone who wants to join; individuals and teams determine their own fundraising goal, with no fundraising minimum.
“Go to that walk, and you’ll see people from all walks of life,” said Copenhaver. “I had my first chemo treatment yesterday, and saw people from all walks of life. Cancer is a great equalizer, because it knows no prejudice; it doesn’t take sides, and it impacts everybody.”
Registration is online at uniteaugusta.com.
