The second annual “Angels Among Us” 5K Family Fun Walk raised valuable donations for brain tumor research this weekend.
Organizer Maggie Robison started the walk after her son David found out he had a brain tumor in 2008. After suffering a seizure, David underwent an unsuccessful surgery and doctors told him his only option was radiation and chemotherapy.
It wasn’t until September 2008 when Dr. Allan Friedman, a neurosurgeon from Duke University, was able to operate on David and remove any trace of the tumor. Robison modeled the local event after the “Angels Among Us” walk near Duke University, and it’s scheduled to coincide with that event.
David now serves as one of the national captains for the walk in North Carolina on April 24.
Seventy-five people walked on Saturday morning from the Cape Harbour Clubhouse on El Dorado Parkway through the development’s four gates. Afterwards they held a silent and live auction under the pavilion at Cape Harbour.
“The walk was great and the weather was so beautiful,” said Robison.
Robison said 120 people participated in the event, even though not everyone walked, and each donated $25 or more. The walk has grown in size each year and she said they are planning another one in 2011.
“Absolutely, it will be sometime in the first few weeks of April,” she said.
All of the proceeds from Saturday are donated to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, a leading center in brain tumors that conducts cutting edge research.
The auctions featured items such as a jeweled cross, a Garmin GPS Navigator, a martini-themed basket, a four night stay in New York City, a two night stay at the Hampton Inn, and many more. Local resident Gary Cogley acted as auctioneer and participants, all wearing tan “Angels Among Us” T-shirts, ate lunch and bid.
Overall, the silent auction had 55 items and the live auction had 15.
The 2009 walk raised $12,000 for brain tumor research.