Stamford Health held its 28th annual Hope in Motion Walk event on Sunday, June 11 at Mill River Park. This year’s event raised nearly $500,000.
As the founding and presenting sponsor, Ashforth partnered with Stamford Hospital 28 years ago in part to bring awareness to how much cancer has affected the lives of people in the community and to reach out to the community to let people know what an outstanding, local cancer center we have available to us. Ashforth annually provides a financial contribution, a fundraising team, and marketing services in kind. Over the 28 years, this total has exceeded $1.3 million.
This year, Ashforth’s team reached its fundraising goal with over $5,000 raised through individual efforts and team mini events including Memorial Day Bake Sales and a Summer Block Party Potluck. Special thanks to our team captains Nick Boyer, Alexis DiBuono, Andrew Martinez, and Sarah Waterbury for coordinating the team and several other fundraising events leading up to the day of the event.
The event has raised nearly $18 million over 28 years. Today the community supports 5,500 cancer patients and their families who are in active treatment at the Bennett Cancer Center every year. 100% of all donations go directly to sustain quality-of-life programs and services at the Bennett Cancer Center including exercise, relaxation, and nutrition programs; patient transportation; lunches during chemotherapy; non-medical financial help; counseling; post-treatment exercise and more. This is all provided free of charge to patients which is highly unusual compared to other cancer programs locally and across the country.
The Bennett Cancer Center and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world-renowned cancer hospital in Boston, Mass, have a close partnership. Together, they conduct research and clinical trials involving cancer drugs, so that patients in Stamford can access these treatments without having to travel far. The Bennett Cancer Center holds weekly tumor boards, where physicians from both institutions review new cancer patients. This ensures that patients receive the best possible care, regardless of where they receive treatment. Funds from the walk will also be used to strengthen this partnership.
Cancer survivors and their families were honored during the walk, which featured a celebration in the park complete with a DJ, food trucks, photo booth, survivor photo and tribute wall, along with other activities for participants.
