The Link-Partners in Pink raises $50,000-plus

Held throughout the month of October as a virtual event, this year’s The Link-Partners in Pink Run/Walk raised $56,000 that will benefit Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Welch Cancer Center Comfort Care program.

Proceeds will assist with special needs of patients going through cancer treatment and their families.

The event is put on by the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation, which set up the annual run/walk as a month-long online event rather than a one-day happening in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ada Kirven, the Foundation’s director of donor relations, said the Foundation is humbled by the outstanding support from the community.

She said the Link event started as a grass roots idea to support mammography and has become a way to show support and love to those going through diagnosis, treatment and recovery, along with loved ones lost to cancer.

She said this year there was still a great sense of community, even when participants came together by staying apart.

Kirven said when cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread, successful treatment is more likely and, in some cases, cure is possible. She said Foundation funds also support cancer screening and early detection.

Winners in this year’s Partners in Pink included Mandy Galloway, first in the 10K with a time of 56:39, JJ McGinnis first in the 5K with a time of 25:39, and Melanie Daniel, who finished first in the 1.5-mile walk with a time of 29 minutes even.