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Two upcoming events in Marblehead will honor Mary Park and support innovative brain cancer research.
The annual “Miles for Mary” 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18, at Devereux Beach. Registration costs $30 in advance via milesformary.com or $35 on race day, which opens at 9 a.m. Bib pickup for pre-registrants will be available the night before at Marathon Sports in Salem.
A second event, a research seminar featuring Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner and Dr. Michael W. Parsons from the Mass General Cancer Center, will take place Monday, Nov. 3, at the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead. The $65 registration includes dinner and begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7 p.m.
Both events aim to raise awareness and funds for glioblastoma research. Mary Park died from the aggressive brain cancer in 2012. Since 2013, Miles for Mary has raised more than $800,000 for the Mass General Cancer Center.
According to the National Brain Tumor Society, glioblastoma has a five-year survival rate of only 6.8%. Research for the disease remains underfunded relative to other cancers, despite its ranking as the 10th most deadly.
All proceeds will support the work of Dr. Gerstner, whose clinical trial, INCIPIENT, is exploring CAR T-cell therapy for glioblastoma patients. Early results have shown promising tumor shrinkage.
Miles for Mary is part of the Marblehead Road Race Series. Donations can also be made directly to the Mass General Cancer Center through the group’s website.
Contacts for the event include Bill Park at wpark05@gmail.com and Nate Walton at nywalton@gmail.com.
More information is available at www.milesformary.com.
