BENTONVILLE — Few people have run more Cancer Challenge races than Mike Christenson.
Christenson, 62, of Rogers was one of about 800 people who participated in one of the running or walking events at Orchards Park on Saturday morning.
At A Glance
Championship Donation
Cancer Challenge received a $100,000 donation from the recently completed Walmart NW Arkansas Championship LPGA tournament. The gift was the largest contribution Cancer Challenge has received in its 20-year history.
Tina Waggener, director of Cancer Challenge, said given the size of the gift, the organization’s Board of Directors will consider how best to apply the contribution. Cancer Challenge’s top focus areas include education, treatment, survivorship, and navigation and social services.
“Many more lives will be touched here in Northwest Arkansas as a result of this generosity,” Waggener said, in a news release from Cancer Challenge. “The tournament has become one of the jewels in our community, and their commitment to improving the quality of life here for all our citizens is commendable.”
Source: Staff Report
Christenson ran the 10-kilometer race and finished first in his age group with a time of 44 minutes, 58 seconds. He said he’s missed no more than two Cancer Challenge races since the annual event began in 1993. He remembers the event’s early years at Blowing Springs Park in Bella Vista when only about 100 runners participated.
“It’s probably one of the greatest events of its kind because it’s so local,” Christenson said. “It’s a local race that has maintained its local roots.”
The Cancer Challenge is a weekend-long series of athletic events intended to raise money for cancer services and programs offered in Northwest Arkansas. Golf, tennis and skeet shooting also are part of the event.
Christenson said his mother-in-law died of cancer last year. He also had a cousin who died of cancer; she was a research scientist studying cancer.
“It’s a killer, man,” Christenson said.
Terri and Jeff Farar of Bentonville ran Saturday in memory of Terri’s father, Terry “Bo” Ashmore, who died at 53 in November 2007 after a three-year battle with lung cancer. The Farars both wore brown T-shirts with Ashmore’s name on the back.
“We ran for him,” Terri Farar said. “The race is for a good cause. Hopefully someday it will save another family from heartache.”
Justin Hart, 30, of Rogers ran the 5-kilometer race with his niece, Darina Hart, 12, also of Rogers. They came across the finish line at nearly the same time, about the 32-minute mark.
“We’ve run races before, but this is the first time we’ve stayed together,” Hart said.
Darina was preparing for cross country practice, which will start in 10 days. Hart said he ran for fun and to support a good cause.
Steve Cooper, 61, of Fayetteville didn’t exactly run the 10-kilometer race, but he did race-walk it. Race walking requires participants to keep one foot on the ground at all times; in addition, the leading leg must remain straight. Cooper said he’s been race walking for about 30 years.
Cooper, a longtime employee at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, lost his mother to cancer in 1982 when she was 52.
“I appreciate them putting on these events,” Cooper said. “It takes a ton of volunteers to put on something like this.”
Tina Waggener, Cancer Challenge director, said this year’s Cancer Challenge attracted 2,200 participants and 425 volunteers. Since its inception 20 years ago, Cancer Challenge has raised more than $10 million.
This year’s event was expected to generate more than $600,000 to support cancer services at Circle of Life Hospice, Community Clinic, Hope Cancer Resources, Northwest Arkansas Free Health Clinic, the Northwest Arkansas Mercy Family YMCA and Washington Regional Medical Center’s Cancer Support Home.
“We are blessed with some amazing resources in Northwest Arkansas,” Waggener said. “People don’t have to leave the area for quality treatment.”