The Participant Center is
your home for easy and fun online fundraising. This guide will help you customize your Personal Page, e-mail
all of your friends and family to ask for their support, and view your progress.
Are you a team captain or are
you considering taking a leadership role in our event? Learn how you can recruit team members
and inspire others to commit to ending lung
cancer.
The 7th Annual Pauline Moraco-Arredondo Lung Cancer Walk & Rally is a 2.5 mile walk/fun run around the William W. Powers State Recreation Area to raise funds for critical lung cancer research. The course is friendly to strollers, wheelchairs, bicycles, and pets (as long as they are cleaned up after). DJ "Geo" George Peña from Mixmasters, Inc. will provide the morning's soundtrack and homemade cookies will be available for a suggested $1 donation. Be sure to enter the raffle for a chance to win fabulous prizes!
In October of 2003, life seemed like it couldn't get any better. We were planning a surprise 70th birthday party for Mom, and she was awaiting the birth of her fifth grandchild, Nicholas. Her only granddaughter, Kira, was now a toddler and loved to be with her because Nana would play "Tea Party" and "Little People" with her whenever they were together. Mom and Kira adored each other, and, for the short time they had together, were truly "best friends." Mom seemed to be in great health. She even worked part time at Aon Center in downtown Chicago. Those whose lives she touched always remember her by using one or all of these words: loving, generous, kind, selfless, and caring. To many people, she was a second mom because she cared so much.
This event is in honor of the memory of our beloved Mom, Pauline. She was diagnosed with lung cancer on April 29, 2004. On this day, our family's world came crashing down. We now lived with the fact and fear that Mom had lung cancer, a disease that we knew nothing about except that it was one of the worst ones to get. Mom, in her usual motherly and strong way, never let us become afraid or worried. She assured us that she was going to be all right and that she would fight this battle and win. After a summer of chemotherapy, she had her opponent retreating. By October of 2004, the cancer had decreased by nearly 70%. The doctors were amazed and figured that she was staged wrong. Once again, Mom was proving her resilience. Just as she met every challenge in her life, she met this one with strength, tenacity, and faith. We enjoyed every moment that we had with her throughout our lives and during her battle. We savored every moment of victory.
In January of 2005, her opponent was back. Though disappointed, Mom approached this setback with faith and strength. When she became afraid and discouraged, we sat next to her, held her hand, prayed with her, and gave her the words of encouragement that she gave to countless others. She would always say, "Thank you. Your words give me strength." As the illness progressed, it was quite apparent that the medicines were no longer working. The doctors told us that it was a matter of weeks. We still believed in Mom and thought that she would prove them wrong. In her last days, even though she was physically weak, she still approached the days with hope and strength. She fought a valiant battle for 11 months. Throughout her illness, she was strong and always hoped that a cure was soon to be found. Toward the end of her battle, she remarked that "nobody should ever have to suffer this disease" and that she hoped that a cure would come soon. Mom believed that she would be able to hold out until that cure came.
Sadly, Mom's battle ended on March 4, 2005. In honor of her memory, we have dedicated ourselves to helping find a cure for lung cancer. I hope that you can join us in our efforts.
--David and Allyson Arredondo
Honor a lost loved one or celebrate a survivor
Honor markers, each with a customized tribute message, will
be placed along the event course to guide walkers and runners. To order
your tribute message, download a form here. Honor Marker forms must be turned into the Chicago office by Friday, September 13, 2013.
Check-in/registration begins: 8:30 am Program and opening remarks: 9:30 am Team photos: 9:50 am Walk/fun run: 10:00 am Closing ceremony and raffle: 11:00 am
REGISTRATION FEES
Adult: $25 Family (3 or more): $65 Lung cancer survivor: $15 Senior (60 years or older): $15 Student (with valid ID): $10 Youth (13 years or younger): $10
