10th Anniversary 5K this Saturday at OSU Newark-COTC Rotary Park
Karis’ Cause Helps Take the Sting Out of Childhood Cancer
The Karis’ Cause 10th Anniversary 5K will kick off Saturday, August 17th, at 9:00 am at OSUN-COTC’s beautiful Rotary Park. On-site registration begins at 7:30am, while online registration is still open at www.KarisCause.org.
Thirteen Corporate Sponsors anchor the 2024 Karis’ Cause Run/Walk: Newark Moose Lodge 499, Three Bags Full Children’s Consignment Sale, Alan and Bettie Felumlee in Memory of Sandy McCann, Ambassador Title of Newark, Lindsay Honda-Acura-GMC-Buick of Columbus, Dediworth Solutions in Memory of Paul Bormann, Alan and Bettie Felumlee in Memory of George Murphy, Jonathan Gilchrist of Rolls Realty in Honor of Sheila Gilchrist, RDL Landscape & Varsity Lawn Landscape, Memorial to Bill & Dorothy Palmer by Trudie (Palmer) & Scott Dishon, Memorial to BJ Crowe by DediWorth Solution, VFW 1060, and Anonymous Friends of Karis’ Cause. All total, one hundred-fifty sponsors are supporting Karis’ Cause 10th anniversary 5K.
In the last nine years, Karis’ Cause has supported over 700 courageous kids and families in their battle against childhood cancer. This local group of volunteers operates under the fiscal umbrella of the American Childhood Cancer Organization, a highly accredited national non-profit. The goal of Karis’ Cause is to give courageous kids, and their families, a hand up, by helping them “Take the Sting Out of Childhood Cancer”. The donors and volunteers of Karis’ Cause have provided well over $200,000 in gas and food gift cards to families since 2015.
Annually, Karis’ Cause host fall visits to Van Buren Acres for courageous kids and their siblings. The volunteer group has also supported Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s cancer research program and supports the social services staff on the Oncology floor with gift cards for the kids to acquire needed items and special toys. With support from Ambassador Title of Newark, Karis’ Cause provides holiday meals and gift cards to oncology floor families at Nationwide Children’s. The group has donated $10,000 to the Ronald McDonald House, earmarked for housing for Oncology floor families. Karis’ Cause has provided hundreds of holiday gifts for kids, with support from the C-TEC Dental and Fire and EMS students, the Licking County 4-H, and Hilliard Dental Associates. Several hundred Snuggle and Read Bags, made by a volunteer, have been given to newly diagnosed children. In addition, Karis’ Cause has purchased numerous “butterfly wagons” to transport kids for medical procedures, such as chemotherapy.
Karis’ Cause has donated $25,000 to The James Cancer Hospital at OSU in support of a new Proton Therapy Clinic for children and adults. The Proton Clinic is a joint venture between OSU and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. For the first time, Central Ohio little ones will be able to have crucial proton therapy, without traveling long distances for treatment. The gift by Karis’ Cause to The James @ OSU was used for a new state-of-the-art Pediatric Virtual Reality Initiative to support a child’s journey through their cancer treatment.
Marci Harbage, founder, and volunteer leader of Karis’ Cause, said, “Funds from the 5K, allow us to provide food and gas for families of courageous kids, along with so many other things, at a time when they need it most.” Marci stated, “We are blessed, to have so many kind and generous donors. Contributors and volunteers are the foundation of Karis’ Cause.” Please follow Karis’ Cause on Facebook.