The fourth annual Jana Piccola Walk4Love to benefit pediatric cancer research is set for Saturday at Mill Dam Park.
The 5K run/walk and 1 mile fun run is named in honor of Jana Piccola, a member of the 2004 Huntington High School class, who died in 2008 from acute myeloid leukemia. She had first been diagnosed with cancer at 16.
On the organization's website is a letter from Piccola, who wrote of her experience. "It was in mid May of 2003, the day of junior prom. While most girls were worrying about make-up and their prom dress, I had larger issues at hand. I received a phone call that no sixteen year old should receive; I had cancer. My summer was spent in and out of the hospital, getting chemotherapy and radiation treatments for soft tissue sarcoma. I had the love and support from family, friends, and my boyfriend Sean, so I was able to focus and stay positive."
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The treatment put her disease into remission but she later developed leukemia.
Registration for the run begins at 7:30 a.m. The fun run begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5k run at 9 a.m.
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Jogging strollers are not permitted in the run. Registration ends Friday; the fee is $25 , and $10 for the fun run.
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