The 11th annual Run for Dad is set for June 16 at Mercer County Park.
Run for Dad aims to increase awareness about prostate cancer and raise money to support the American Cancer Society’s research and education projects.
This year’s race also celebrates the American Cancer Society’s 100th birthday. The organization’s mission is to finish the fight against cancer and put itself out of business before its 200th birthday.
According to ACS, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men; one in six men in the United States will get prostate cancer during his lifetime and incidence among African Americans is 60 percent higher than white or Asian men.
Additionally, New Jersey is ranked the country’s third highest incidence per capita of prostate cancer.
Run for Dad was founded 11 years ago by two prostate cancer survivors with a 5k race, a kids’ run and a 2k walk along Mercer County Park’s trails and lake.
The first year, about 700 people came to the event. The race has grown to close to 2,000 participants.
Run for Dad features kids’ games, entertainment, refreshments, awards, random prize drawings and valuable cancer information.
Registration is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. and the 5k race and 2k walk start at 8:45 a.m., followed by the kids run.
More information is online at runfordadnj.net.
