(Washington, D.C.) – Certified
Platinum recording artist and American Idol® winner David
Cook is lacing up for a very personal cause on Sunday, May 5
as he joins walkers, runners, activists and survivors at the16th
Annual
Race for Hope
– DC, presented by Cassidy Turley (curebraintumors.org).
Cook is a vocal brain cancer
awareness advocate. He has proactively raised cancer
research funds and spoken publicly about his brother, Adam,
who lost his valiant battle with brain cancer in 2009. This
year, Cook returns to the Race for Hope – DC to
remember his brother and send a message of hope and
resilience to the families of nearly 700,000 people living
with a primary brain tumor diagnosis in the United States.
"The Race for Hope is an amazing
event of spirit and resolve for all involved in the fight
against brain tumors. Our efforts honor the memories of
those who have lost their battle with brain tumors, as well
as survivors and family members who continue to fight the
disease,” said David Cook, previous American Idol® winner
and Honorary Chair of the Race for Hope. “I am beyond
excited to serve as Honorary Chair again this year and
thrilled to be part of the world’s largest brain tumor
community event to raise awareness for brain tumor research
and help find an eventual cure."
The 16th Annual Race for Hope
– DC is one of the nation’s most inspirational and
successful volunteer charity fundraising events. Last year’s
race raised a record-breaking $2.6 million for brain tumor
research, and the 2013 race participants and their 540
fundraising teams hope to meet or exceed that figure this
year. Serving as honorary chair, Cook adds even more
excitement to the annual event, which features akids’ Fun
Run, the Wall of Hope, and tributes to brain tumor
survivors.
Beth Ann
Telford, a Washington, D.C. area resident, will receive the
Rabbi Joseph P. Weinberg Triumph of the Spirit Award
at the 2013 event. Telford, a marathon runner, tri-athlete
and Ironman competitor was diagnosed with an inoperable
brain tumor and today
races to raise awareness and
funding for cancer research. Her 2012 participation in the
Race for Hope-DC raised $105,000.
Highlights of the 16th
anniversary Race for Hope – DC include a Survivor
Tribute featuring more than 350 brain tumor survivors who
will march together towards the start line as a symbol of
hope and strength in their battle against brain tumors. The
Race for Hope has grown to more than 12,000
participants in a culmination of a weekend of activities
that also features a
Golf for Hope
tournament at Blue Mash Golf Course and many
team-sponsored fundraising parties. These activities provide
family and friends who have lost loved ones an opportunity
to celebrate their lives and provide support for each other.
Since the Race for Hope-DC
started in 1997, the event has raised more than $17.5
million for brain tumor research and supports those affected
by the disease. Each year, Race for Hope – DC helps
to bring hope and attention to the often, underserved brain
tumor community. The need to increase research funding
ismore urgent than ever – today, nearly 700,000 Americans
are living with a primary brain tumor diagnosis, and within
the next 12 months, more than 210,000 more will be diagnosed
with a primary or metastatic brain tumor.
The Race for Hope – DC
benefits Washington, D.C.-based
Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure and
the
National Brain Tumor Society.
Both of these organizations share a goal - a day when there
is acure, and when all patients with brain tumors are told
they have a manageable disease.
The Race begins at Freedom Plaza
at 13th and Pennsylvania Avenue (metro accessible) at 9:00
a.m. on Sunday, May 5th, 2013.
Top sponsors include: Cassidy
Turley, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, Genentech, The Case
Foundation, CoStar Group, Morgan Lewis, Clear Channel, Blue
Mash Golf Course, First Potomac Realty Trust, Katten Muchin
Rosenman, GEICO and Beacon Capital.
Online registration for the race
concludes Monday, April 29, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. EST. To
register as a participant or as a volunteer visit
www.curebraintumors.org