Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship Announces YCC as Beneficiary

Yale Cancer Center has been selected by “Coast to Coast: A Run for Survivorship” as the primary beneficiary for its cross country run in 2006.

“We are honored that ‘Coast to Coast’ has partnered with Yale Cancer Center to increase awareness and funding for cancer survivorship, not only in Connecticut but nationwide. The commitment and dedication they make to cancer survivors throughout the five month run is an inspiration,” said Richard L. Edelson, M.D., director of theYale Cancer Center.

The 23-year-old president of the Challenge America Foundation, Christian McEvoy, will complete the 3,500 mile run from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans to raise awareness of cancer survivorship and funds for the Connecticut Challenge Adult Survivorship Center at Yale Cancer Center. The run will begin in San Francisco on July 1, 2006 and finish in Rhode Island in late November, 2006. McEvoy joins fewer than fifty runners who have completed the cross-country run.

Joining McEvoy in “Coast to Coast,” is John Chenier, event coordinator for the run. The team will pass through 13 states and visiting cancer patients during their trip. McEvoy and Chenier, both high school teachers, are also challenging high school students to join them in raising awareness of the issues affecting cancer survivors and funds to support cancer patients and research. High schools along the route will be encouraged to form relay teams to join McEvoy for segments of the run.

“The personal challenge I will face in running across the country is really insignificant when compared to the challenges cancer survivors face every day of their lives,” said McEvoy. “I am inspired by the cancer survivors I know and I am excited that we found a way to help raise funds and awareness for all survivors.”

Chenier shares McEvoy’s enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge and said, “I look forward to supporting Christian as he runs. I am also very excited by the meaningful opportunity to involve high school students in this huge effort.”

There are over 10 million cancer survivors in the United States today and, due to the advances in cancer treatment, the number of survivors will continue to grow. Long term consequences of childhood and adult cancer treatments may include heart problems, fertility issues, lymph edema, post-traumatic stress, impaired growth, osteoporosis, or increased risk of second cancers. One in two men and one in three women will develop cancer.

The Connecticut Challenge Adult Survivorship Center at Yale Cancer Center provides care and consultation to people who have been diagnosed and treated for cancer and focuses on the long-term effects of cancer, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Each multidisciplinary team consists of a physician, specialized advanced practice nurse, social workers, a nutritionist and other medical specialists who focus on the special problems of patients and their families both during and after cancer treatment.

“Coast to Coast” will be the subject of a documentary film, funded by Fairfield University, following the team through preparations and along the 3,500 mile route.

Yale Cancer Center is one of a select network of 39 comprehensive cancer centers in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute and the only one in Southern New England. Bringing together the resources of Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale University School of Medicine, its mission encompasses patient care, research, cancer prevention and control, community outreach, and education.