In its second year, the “Give Thanks. Walk.” event in Toledo is already ahead of last year’s total of 60 walkers.

On Nov. 21, Toledo will be one of 40 cities across the United States to host a 3.1-mile walk designed to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.  Registration for the walk begins at 7:30 a.m. and participants will start at 8:15 a.m. at the Westfield Franklin Park Shopping Mall, 5001 Monroe St.

Last year, Toledo was just one of 13 cities to host a walk and had 60 people participate. More than $3,000 was raised.

“We’re very excited to already have more walkers than last year. This is great,” said Stacy Ziarko, senior event marketing representative with St. Jude.

During the opening ceremonies for the walk, participants will hear the story of the Powell family of Fayette, Ohio, about 55 miles west of Toledo. Mattie Powell, 4, spent eight months during 2008 being treated at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In late 2007, Mattie, then 2½, was diagnosed with a tumor in the middle of her brain caused by a rare form of cancer called medulloblastoma. According Mattie’s dad, Duane Powell, only about 300 to 400 kids in the United Sates get this type of cancer a year.

He said his family spent the eight months in the Target House at St. Jude while Mattie was being treated.

“It’s hard to put into words just how wonderful St. Jude is,” Powell said. “They gave us everything and asked for nothing in return.”

Following treatment at St. Jude, Mattie was sent to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, N.Y., to be part of a clinical trial for treatment of her cancer.

In January, Mattie was declared cancer-free — 14 months to the day after being diagnosed, Powell said. However, Mattie and her family still have to go back to St. Jude every three months for checkups.

“If not for them, it wouldn’t have happened,” Powell said.

This year, the entire Powell family is participating in the walk, with their team name of Mattie’s Love. In 2008, their oldest daughter, Hanna, now 13, participated in the walk with aunt, Beth Black and her family.

Powell said he and his wife, Sara, have supported the Relay for Life walks and fundraisers for the American Cancer Society for the past eight years.

“And, now we have another fundraiser. [St. Jude] does so much good there,” Powell said.

Team captains who signed up and registered at least 10 people online by Nov. 11 were automatically entered to win an 8-GB iPod Touch.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 7:50 pm and is filed under Charity, Community.
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