MIDDLETON, Wis. — On a cold Sunday morning, hundreds of Madison residents gathered in Middleton, Wis. to raise awareness and money for Gilda’s Run/Walk 5k.
Because of the pandemic, the event has been happening virtually for the past two years. The event came back to Middleton with the goal of raising $90,000. The money raised helps Gilda’s Club Madison provide support groups, cancer education and other services to cancer patients and their families.
“All the funds that are raised here ensure that we can provide our cancer support programs at no cost to anyone who needs them,” said Lannia Stenz, CEO of Gilda’s Club.
Gilda’s Club is a Madison-based chapter of a larger organization that was started in honor of actress Gilda Radner. Radner was a comedian and “Saturday Night Live” cast member who died of ovarian cancer in 1989.
More than half of U.S. cancer survivors say they have high medical costs and research shows about 40% of Americans can not afford an unexpected medical cost over $400. The year following a cancer diagnosis, the National Cancer Institute said the average cost of medical care and drugs can top $42,000.
“The cost of cancer is incredibly high, in fact it is one of the top three reasons that people declare bankruptcy,” said Stenz. “When people are going through a cancer diagnosis we want to make sure support is available to them at no cost because any additional cost could stop them from coming and getting support.”
Gilda’s Club was able to raise $81,000 of their $90,000 goal during Sunday’s event.
The nonprofit organization is still taking donations. Click here for more.