Two women inspired Toronto cancer walk | News, Sports, Jobs

TORONTO — Although cancer took the lives of two local women, their impact on their families led them to organize a race to raise money for others battling the disease.

The Lou Ann Burchfield and Kathy Hannan Hale Colors of Cancer Memorial 5K Run-Walk returns on August 10.

The race gets its name from the fact that the organizers ask participants to wear colors that represent different types of cancer, and it also refers to the two women who inspired the race.

Lou Ann McCart Burchfield graduated from Toronto High School in 1980. She ran a home daycare for 15 years and was a member of the Nazarene Church. She was a member of the Nazarene Church until her death in 2008 at the age of 46.

Kathy Hannan Hale met many people as a clerk at Toronto’s Ben Franklin Store and Stacey’s IGA. She died of cancer last year at the age of 70, when the families decided to start Sunshine Charity Inc. to help cancer patients with various costs related to their care and daily living.

Burchfield’s daughters — Natalie, Arica, Felicia and Susie — and Hale’s daughters — Alicia and Krista — also decided to host an annual race in their honor.

Last year, the first run, which aimed to attract at least 100 participants, attracted 150 runners and walkers of all ages.

Everyone was invited to wear the colors of a cancer type that was dear to them.

Pink is known as the color symbolizing breast cancer, but other colors and combinations of certain colors are also used to symbolize other forms of the disease.

Participants in the running race may also wear multiple colors to emphasize its many forms.

The sisters have announced that the time trial will once again start at 9 a.m. at Tri-B’s Coffee Shop, one of the many businesses that have supported the event. The walkers will depart from the same location at 9:05 a.m.

The route for both trails includes a scenic route overlooking the Ohio River, leading to Old Route 7 and back.

There will also be a 1K Fun Run for kids at 10 a.m. and a virtual version of the race for those who can’t make it in person. Registration closes on August 8.

Individuals can register for all races at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Toronto/ColorsofCancerMemorial5K or in person at 8:00 a.m. the day of the race.

After crossing the finish line, participants may light a candle or balloon in memory of or in honor of someone who has battled cancer.

The sisters also invited them to share memories of their loved ones on the race’s Facebook page.

The event is one of four races held in the city in support of various charities.

That is why a special medal has been created for all participants, with an image of each of the four.

The first two, the Pat Campbell Fighting Cancer 5K and the Biasi-Shuma Memorial 5K Run-Walk, were held around St. Patrick’s Day and Independence Day, respectively.

The Burchfield-Hale Run is followed by the T-Town Turkey Trot, held early on Thanksgiving Day.