Walking with Friends
CRANBERRY TWP — The Race for Virginia and Friends has become an annual Fourth of July tradition honoring the young lives lost to cancer and raising funds to help find a cure for pediatric cancer.
The 5K run/walk benefits pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
"It's a really great family day and a way to honor these kids that have battled cancer and, unfortunately, are not with us," said Wendy Parrish, the race's publicity coordinator.
This year's event will honor the memory of Riley Addison Scheller, who died on Aug. 22, 2008. Riley, who was a Mars Centennial School student, was born May 6, 1997. Friends described her as wonderful little girl growing up.
She was diagnosed with glioblastoma.
She is survived by her mother, Carrie; her father, Jeff Scheller; her sister, Larson, and her brother Dustin.
Riley loved animals and wanted to become a veterinarian when she grew up. She enjoyed watching "Hannah Montana" and "Wizards of Waverly Place" and surrounded her walls with posters of the Jonas Brothers.
When she wasn't having fun shopping, using her cell phone and collecting Webkinz and Build-A-Bears, she took pleasure in reading, hiking, swimming or dancing.
According to the American Cancer Society, each year more than 12,000 children are diagnosed with the disease.
"We had our biggest turnout last year with 1,000 participants. Our race has grown each year, and we are proud to report we have raised more than $325,000 for pediatric cancer research over the years," said Nancy Clark, mother of Virginia Clark, who's memory is honored in the name of the race. Virginia died on March 13, 2002.
Started in July 2002, the Race for Virginia set out to accomplish two purposes, according to event organizers.
First, remember the life and spirit of Virginia, a victim of neuroblastoma, just a month after her 9th birthday.
The second is to raise as much money as possible for pediatric cancer research, so other children and their families would be spared the pain of dealing with the deadly effects of cancer.
<B>WHAT: </B>The 9th annual Race for Virginia and Friends 5K Run/Walk to benefit pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC<B>WHEN:</B> 8:30 a.m. July 4<B>WHERE</B>: Cranberry Township Community Park off Route 19<B>REGISTRATION:</B> Registration is $20 at www.raceforvirginia.org. Registration also will be accepted before the start of the race.<B>INFO: </B>For information, send e-mail to info@raceforvirginia.org or call 724-772-7429.
