GoodStuff PR Co. News Detail
November 307, 2009
FRANKLIN 4 THE CURE 5K RACE AND CONCERT RAISES OVER $53K FOR LOCAL CHARITIES
NEXT YEAR'S RACE SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 18, 2010
Proceeds to Benefit: The American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org) Cure Search National Childhood Cancer Foundation (http://www.curesearch.org) Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt (http://www.vanderbiltchildrens.com)
FRANKLIN, TN - Franklin 4 The Cure (http://www.franklin4thecure.org/), an all day event which took place Sept. 19, 2009, will award three local charities with an equal division of over $53,000 raised through the day's festivities. The events took place in the Westhaven development in West Franklin off New Highway 96W.
Exactly $53,725 will be split between the three charities that enticed 650 registered racers to brave downpours all morning and into the afternoon. Race 4 the Cure (http://www.franklin4thecure.org/) is a certified 5k route (3.1 Miles) and began at 7:30 AM with (2) kids fun runs afterward. The rain held off in the evening and drew over 550 music fans to the evening concert where Vic White and the Pitchmen, and Ryan Laird, opened up for country artist, Deana Carter and her band. The concert went well into the evening and was a huge success.
Over 120 volunteers from Westhaven and the surrounding Franklin community gave of their time to make the day's events a huge success.
"This was a fantasic day," said Mark McCutcheon, volunteer President of the Westhaven Foundation, the non-profit foundation that organized the events. "Even with the rain, people still came out and supported the cause. It was really incredible."
The 2010 race is set for Sept. 18, 2010 and plans are underway for another evening concert as well.
Runners also ran in support of local children affected by the disease. Concert goers were shown a beautifully descriptive video created by photographer, Paul Rinkes, that featured two local families talking about having children currently undergoing treatment. (Click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eXirabzhDE) to view video)
The Stacey family has raised over $90,000 through these concerts and feels a sense of purpose behind their desire to organize them. "We are so thrilled each year to have this opportunity to honor our mother with these concerts. We are fortunate to have so many caring people join us in our campaign to fight Cancer by funding research," they said.
Additional activities included a silent auction at the concert with airline tickets, gift certificates, dinners, award show tickets and much, much more available for bidding. "The silent auction was amazing," says Larisa Hensiek, mother of Lily, a young Westhaven resident currently undergoing treatment for leukemia. "Each person's bid really made a difference and helped this event raise more money for the fight against cancer," she said. After Lily's Rocket Run, named in her honor and held earlier in the day, Lily greeted silent auction attendees and VIP guests prior to the start of the concert.
This was the 4th year for the Concert 4 The Cure and was started by the four sons of Theresa Stacey, after their beloved mother lost her twelve year battle with the disease in 2001. Her courageous fight became an inspiration to everyone she touched. The Stacey family has raised over $90,000 through these concerts and feels a sense of purpose behind their desire to organize them. "We are so thrilled each year to have this opportunity to honor our mother with these concerts. We are fortunate to have so many caring people join us in our campaign to fight Cancer by funding research," they said.
The Westhaven Foundation, is an independent nonprofit 501c3 organization established in 2007 to promote lifelong learning, leadership, preservation, philanthropy and environmental awareness within Westhaven and the greater Franklin community. The Foundation complements the activities and programs in the community; however, it functions entirely independent from the Westhaven Homeowners Association and Southern Land Company.
