HOULTON, Maine — A parent’s love for their child can drive them to accomplish great things. Such is the case for Houlton resident Kirk Ward, who is organizing a team of runners to complete a 117-mile run from Houlton to the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer.
Calling his run the “Making Some Noise/Raising the Banner Toward Childhood Cancer Awareness,” Ward and 14 other runners will start their trek Thursday evening at 8 p.m., and, taking shifts, run all night until they reach the Lafayette Family Cancer Center.
“My long-term goal is to assist the development of the pediatric clinic, draw more attention to the long-term effects of treatment through chemotherapy and radiation and share in the embrace of families who spill all their energy into our future,” he said.
Ward, and his wife Amy, and children Felicity and Blake, know all too well how childhood cancer can wreak havoc on a family. The Wards’ youngest daughter Makenna was just 6 years old when she died Dec. 29, 2013 after a lengthy battle with a rare form of cancer.
Ward’s relay run will begin on Route 2 near Haynesville as the group makes its way to Brewer. Part of the reason he chose this specific course, Ward has calculated how many minutes (transferred to miles) his daughter spent on average undergoing chemo and radiation treatments.
Each team member will run approximately seven miles, with the plan of all 15 to come together and run into the Lafayette parking lot as a group. He hopes members of the public will ride along with them to offer encouragement.
“My plan is not to be political,” he said. “I just want to educate and draw more attention toward pediatric cancer and the long-term effects of treatment. The long-term effects can sometimes be just as damaging as the cancer. I am basically doing this through the strength of my daughter’s fight with cancer.”
Taking part in the race are: Chris Rines, Ty Thurlow, David Goodrich, Dave Bates, Joe and Angie Ewings, Martha Bell, Jaime Rockwell, Karen Fournier, along with four runners from the Brewer area who will meet the runners along the route.
Ward said it is his hope to make this an annual event.
Any monetary gifts can be sent to the EMHS Foundation, PO Box 931, Bangor, Me 04401. Checks can be made out to PedsOncology with the words “Minutes to Miles run” in the memo portion. Ward has also set up an online fundraising page at: http://emmc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1149819&supId=428161420 for people who wish to make donations. For more information, contact Ward at: ward_kirk@yahoo.com.
