| Stamford, CT - June 15, 2010 More than 4,500 walkers, runners, and riders took to the streets of downtown Stamford raising a record $900,000, and counting, for the 15th annual Hope in Motion — Walk, Run & Ride. The event held June 6 on National Cancer Survivors Day®, raises vital funds for local cancer programs and services offered at Stamford Hospital's Bennett Cancer Center, and honors those whose lives have been touched by the disease.
This year's record total surpasses 2009's final tally of $830,000. Event organizers are optimistic that the goal of $1 million can be attained by the September 30 donation deadline.
"Our $1 million goal for the 15th anniversary is within reach, demonstrating just how much of an impact cancer has on our community," stated Elizabeth Manfredo, Director of Cancer Services. "Every dollar donated to Hope in Motion makes a difference in the lives of local cancer patients. Donations to this event provide a number of supportive services at no cost to our patients. These include psychological and nutritional counseling, support groups, Integrative Medicine and Survivorship programs, to name a few. In addition, Nurse Navigators are funded to guide patients and their families from diagnosis through treatment and post-treatment care. We are overjoyed with the success of this year's event, and thank everyone who participated for making it such a wonderful day."
Rose Capuano (Stamford), Janine Nanos (Stamford), and Nicole Nienstadt (Bethel) led their team, Rose's Buds, comprised of members from Shelton, Stamford and Bethel, along with a number of New Yorkers, to become the top fundraising team, raising over $33,000. Rose's Buds led the walk on June 6. The top individual fundraiser, Craig Price (Stamford) raised over $17,000 to date in memory of his mother-in-law, Nancy Leferman, while a member of the Sock-it-to-Cancer team she started.
Donations are accepted until September 30. For more information about the Hope in Motion event, or how you can still donate this year, www.hope-in-motion.org.
The date for the 16th anniversary event is Sunday, June 5, 2011.
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The Hope in Motion event is presented by Stamford Hospital Foundation, the fundraising arm of Stamford Hospital. The event's Founding and Presenting sponsor is The Ashforth Company. Other event sponsors include: Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Athlete's Foot; Colliers; Diamond Properties; Encon; Fairfield County Bank; First County Bank; Jackson Lewis; Silver, Golub & Teitell; Synapse Group; Thomson Reuters; UBS; Wachovia Bank; and many more local businesses offered their support.
This year, an increase in social media helped to raise awareness and funds. The Hope in Motion Facebook page has over 500 fans, allowing participants to post photos, share memories, and swap stories. The Twitter page allows for much of the same, and keeps its followers up to date on all of Hope in Motion's goings on. A new medium, which allows anyone to make a quick and easy $10 donation by texting "HIM" to 20222, also helped to raise funds.
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