For Lisa Forman, it all started in 2009 when she and seven of her neighbors were preparing to do the Breast Cancer 3-day walk.
One month before the event, one of her neighbors was diagnosed with breast cancer and that’s when, Forman said, she realized she wanted to do something more than just participate.
From there, Forman and friend Rochelle Senges, dreamed of doing a similar cancer awareness run/walk in their own backyard.
And from there, the Annual Walk 4 Family and Friends was born in Connolly Park, Voorhees.
“There were five women on my street with cancer. We hear so many cases. We wanted people to feel they could participate locally,” Forman said.
Now in its fourth year, the annual walk will be held on April 22, with proceeds going to two non-profit organizations — the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the Financial Assistance for Cancer Patient’s Program, which was established by Samost Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Southern New Jersey (JFCS) to provide financial assistance to local families of all religious and ethnic denominations affected by cancer.
The goal this year, Forman said, is to raise $40,000 to specifically fund lung cancer research.
When the walk was established, the vision was to carry on the legacy of “fours,” Forman said. The first walk was held on April 4. The walk/run is 4-miles long.
And the walk was established to bring awareness to four specific types of cancer; breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer and ovarian cancer.
The walk, in its fourth year, comes with a change.
Forman said the vision for the event included her serving as a co-chair with her husband, David Forman, along with Rochelle and Jeff Senges, for four years, with someone new taking the helm after that.
So, this could be the last year of the walk, Forman said, as no one has stepped up yet to lead the group.
Despite the lingering fate of the event, she said, the event promises to be the best yet, with more than 700 people signed up to participate so far — and about $22,000 already raised for cancer research.
Various businesses in Voorhees and Cherry Hill have also pitched in to help with the fundraising efforts, said Lydia Silpe, outreach coordinator at Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Southern New Jersey.
Passariello’s, the Short Hills Deli, Smoothie King, Spoon Me, Jilly B’s and Panchero’s have each hosted fundraisings event leading up to the run/walk.
The event, Forman said, has raised more than $134,000 over the past three years. She said organizers are also thankful for the community’s support, including sports teams from Eastern Regional High School, Mayor Michael Mignogna and the township committee, friends, neighbors and family.
“It’s the most gratifying thing that I do, to watch it grow,” Forman said. “Everyone is so happy to give to our cause. All of the community comes together.”
For Silpe, a melanoma/skin cancer survivor herself, this will be her first year participating in the event. She said she is thankful to see the community come together to support everyone touched by cancer.
The run/walk begins at 8 a.m. on April 22. If you haven’t registered, you can do so the day of at 7:45 a.m. The cost is $30 to participate.
For more information, visit www.walk4family-friendswithcancer.org.
