CRESTVIEW — Crestview and surrounding residents can help raise money for cancer research on Saturday at the 5th Annual Davidson Dash Run for a Cure. The 5K, 10K and 12-and-under fun run events begin at 8:30 a.m. at Davidson Middle School.
Top winners in several categories, particularly for the 5K and 10K races, will receive awards and recognition on the school website, okaloosaschools.com/davidson.
A children's bounce house will be available throughout the event. In addition, Pace Home Depot employees will show kids how to make personalized toolboxes.
The Relay for Life event helps raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Many attendees usually honor a loved one who has died from cancer or currently battles the disease, Daniel Richards, event organizer and seventh-grade life science teacher at Davidson, said.
He his wife, Jennifer, had a scare when their son, Caleb, 6, was diagnosed with child kidney cancer at 4 months old.
"It just turned our worlds upside down," Richards said. "I just couldn't understand how a healthy little boy could be sick all of the sudden."
The couple took their son to a Pensacola specialist who removed Caleb's cancerous left kidney and administered 13 chemotherapy treatments.
More than 400 participants are expected Saturday; 350 people participated last year, organizers said.
Putting the event together usually costs $2,000, but since sponsors are covering the cost, all registration proceeds directly will benefit the society.
"With the help of the sponsors (namely the Crestview Publix and Main Street Medical Center), we are looking at the potential of writing a check of $7,000 to the American Cancer Society," Richards said.
He hopes that one day there will be no need to raise money, he said.
"Ultimately, I would want to not even have the race, or (we could) race for something else," Richards said. "I would love for there to be a cure for cancer and not need a cancer society."
"I know one day it's coming, but until then we have to keep fighting back."
Two fundraisers benefiting American Cancer Society Relay for Life teams are as follows:
•Davidson Dash Run for a Cure 5k, 10k and fun run events begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Davidson Middle School. Register at http://bit.ly/10JXUSk.
•Super Bowl Sunday Boston butt fundraiser is 4-5 p.m. Saturday at the Crestview Publix parking lot. Butts cost $25 each; proceeds benefit the Duke it Out American Cancer Society Relay for Life team of Crestview. Call Loney Whitley, 603-3500 or 537-4654, to place your order.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Relay for Life coming Saturday to Davidson Middle School