County aims to raise $10K at Pancreatic Cancer Walk

EDISON — Middlesex County’s fourth annual Pancreatic Cancer Walk to raise community awareness about the disease and to help raise funds to aid research will be held June 9 at Roosevelt Park.

Sponsored by the county Office of Health Services and the Middlesex County Cancer Coalition, the event will take place 9-11:30 a.m. next to the municipal lake. Proceeds will benefit pancreatic cancer research at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ).

“Over the past three years, Middlesex County has raised over $8,200 to benefit pancreatic cancer research at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. This year our goal is to raise $10,000,” Middlesex County Freeholder Deputy Director Ronald G. Rios said.

Rios said funding from previous events has gone toward a pancreatic cancer clinical trial that tests the effectiveness of new vaccine combinations and immune response.

Lester Jones, Middlesex County Office of Health Services director and health officer, said the county is lucky to have the Cancer Institute of New Jersey as a partner again this year. He also acknowledged the Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences, the Middlesex County Cancer Coalition, the Middlesex County Parks and Recreation Department and Param Health Care Services Inc. for their involvement and support.

“Roosevelt Park will serve as a great backdrop to this event,” he said.

Check-in time for the event is 8:30-9 a.m. Registration is $10, and donations are encouraged. Interested walkers can register by visiting the CINJ website at http://cinjfoundation.donordrive.com/event/pancwalk2012 or by contacting John Dowd by phone 732-745-3100 or by email [email protected].