Nebraska’s 7th annual Lymphoma Walk will be held Saturday, April 23, at Mahoney State Park. The free event, which is hosted by the Lymphoma Research Foundation, will begin at 10 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. at the park pavilion.
Mahoney State Park is located just off I-80 at exit 426, between Omaha and Lincoln. Though the event is free, vehicles need to purchase a $5 park permit at the park gate.
The Lymphoma Walk is a fun-filled, non-competitive event that offers individuals and teams an opportunity to walk to support those whose lives have been touched by lymphoma. About 450 new cases of lymphoma are diagnosed in Nebraskans each year.
Proceeds from the walk will benefit Nebraskans through research grants and patient services. To date, $500,000 has been raised through walk participants and sponsors.
Honorary chairman of the walk is Mitch Osborn, high school activities director and boys head basketball coach in Harlan, Iowa. He was diagnosed in August 2014 with Mantle cell lymphoma. After six months of chemotherapy two days per month, he had a stem cell transplant in 2015.
“I want to do anything I can to help raise funds for research to find a cure for this blood disease,” Osborn said. “Nebraska Medicine has done so many great things for me that I want to help anyway I can.”
Those interested in participating can start a team, join a team, sign up as an individual or make a donation, by going to www.lymphoma.org/activeevents. At the bottom of the page, click “Find an Event,” then enter Nebraska. For more information, contact Martin Bast at (402) 559-6203, mbast@unmc.edu.
Strollers and friendly leashed pets are welcome. A free picnic will be held for all attendees following the walk.
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and disease begin behaving abnormally. Lymphomas are the 7th most common form of cancer and cause more than 300,000 deaths each year.
Major sponsors include: WOWT, Union Pacific Railroad, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine and Metro Credit Union. Those contributing in-kind donations are Hy-Vee, Starbucks, Bruegger’s Bagels, Krispy Kreme, Panera Bread, Dingman’s Collision Center, Kent Rung Productions and Candy Wrappers.