Proceeds from annual Dallas-Ft. Worth Undy Run/Walk Help Support Innovative Clinical Trials

Immunotherapy is increasingly becoming an option in the arsenal of tools used to combat cancer. Each year funds raised from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s Dallas-Ft. Worth Undy Run/Walk go toward supporting Mary Crowley Cancer Research.

This year the run takes place on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington. Onsite registration will be begin at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K begins at 9:00 a.m.

For the past seven years, proceeds from the Dallas-Fort Worth Undy Run/Walk go towards supporting the development of innovative clinical trials and the benevolent fund at Mary Crowley Cancer Research. Not only does the Undy Run/Walk raise proceeds for treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer, but it’s also a way to raise awareness and show support to survivors and caregivers.

According to the news release, in 2017 approximately 135,430 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and approximately 50,260 are expected to die from the disease. In Texas alone, there are expected to be 9,690 diagnoses and 3,700 deaths this year. However, if detected early enough, colorectal cancer is highly treatable.

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Donated funds from the Undy Run/Walk make treatment opportunities more abundant for colon cancer survivors such as Abilene resident and Dallas native, Kris Southward.

In May 2012, Southward went in for a routine colonoscopy and discovered he had stage 4 colon cancer. After discovering the cancer had spread to his liver, his physician recommended that he look into clinical trials as an option.

“That’s how I got in touch with Mary Crowley. It was such a blessing,” said Southward in the news release.

Southward qualified for a first in-human trial of personalized immunotherapy designed to engage one’s immune system to recognize and fight the cancer. With a renewed sense of hope, he underwent the chemo-immunotherapy combination from November of 2012 through September 2013.

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“I always thought someone has to be on the good side of the statistics,” said Southward. “There are people that beat the odds.”

Southward’s cancer responded to the treatment and at his five-year check-up in June 2017 he received the news that he was cancer-free.

“Through our partnership with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, we have enrolled over 220 colon cancer patients on our innovative clinical trials. Participation in clinical trials brings hope to cancer patients like Kris that a therapy may positively impact their cancer, while moving science forward for future generations by bringing novel therapies one step closer to FDA approval,” said Eunice Kuo, Mary Crowley Cancer Research Development Coordinator in the news release.

For more information or to register, visit www.undyrunwalk.org, and click on Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX. The 2017 Dallas-Ft. Worth Undy Run/Walk is sponsored in part by: Lone Star Endoscopy and Clinical Genomics.

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Registration fees are as follows:

5K Adult (14 and older) – $35 Advance/$40 Race Day

5K Youth (6-13) – $30 Advance/$35 Race Day

1 Mile Fun Run (all ages, Children 5 and younger are free) – $30 Advance/$35 Race Day