New Canaan Race Nets $325K For Cancer Research

NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- Runners and walkers from New Canaan, Fairfield County and beyond helped the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to raise more than $325,000 for cancer research.

Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich receives the MMRF Courage and Commitment Award.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

New Canaan Fire Department Capt. Mike Socci with Kathy Giusti
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

The New Canaan football team with Mark Herzlich of the New York Giants.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Paul Giusti with New Canaan football coach Lou Marinelli.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

New Canaan Boy Scouts of America Troop 31 volunteer on the course at water stations.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Kathy Giusti with patients living with myeloma and Mark Herzlich.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Madison Mulhern, Elisabeth Mulhern, Kathy Giusti and Dan Mulhern.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Mothers and daughters from the New Canaan National Charity League serve as volunteers for event registration
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

The MMRF Race for Research: Tri-State 5K Walk/Run in New Canaan raised $325,000 for cancer research.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

The New Canaan Service League of Boys volunteer their time as course marshals.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Tom Renner

06/12/2014 4:00 a.m.

The 11th annual MMRF Race for Research: Tri-State 5K Walk/Run last Saturday at New Canaan High School included more than 1,250 local participants.

Norwalk-based MMRF is the leading foundation dedicated to the pursuit and acceleration of new treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.

“I am always so impressed by the incredible support that this event receives from the local community and from myeloma patients, their family members and their friends in the tri-state area,” said New Canaan's Kathy Giusti, founder and CEO of the MMRF. “This has always been an important fund raising event for the MMRF and I am forever grateful for the commitment of my hometown in raising this much-needed awareness and money to help the MMRF continue its work in fast-tracking cures for myeloma and other cancers.”

MMRF honored Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich at this year's race. Herzlich, a bone cancer survivor, accepted the group's Courage and Commitment Award. After his diagnosis of a rare bone cancer in 2009, Herzlich was told he would never play football again, and that his odds of survival were as low as 10 percent. Two years later, he went on to conquer cancer and was a member of the Super Bowl XLVI championship team.

“As a cancer survivor, I am truly humbled to be recognized by the MMRF – an organization that is revolutionizing cancer research,” Herzlich said. “Thanks to the MMRF, researchers, scientists and the cancer community at large are sharing more research and helping to break down some of the barriers that have held back progress in finding cures. The MMRF is an inspiration to me because they never give up. I never gave up and that’s why I’m here today.”

New Canaan's football and Lou Marinelli adopted the MMRF as the team’s official charity beneficiary, and 75 members of the football community participated in the event.

The MMRF is offering priority access for local residents to join in upcoming endurance events in the Tri-State area, which are sold-out to public entry, including teams for the New York City Triathlon on Aug. 3 and the TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 2. To participate, support, or learn more about all MMRF events, visit www.themmrf.org/events.

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