Event to support cancer institute

Funds will help early detection



Nanci Sargent has been battling cancer for more than a decade. The Calabasas resident beat non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but her fight against ovarian cancer has endured for the past six years.

Sargent’s daughter, Kelli, turned her master’s thesis project into a cause. She organized the inaugural “Run For Her,” walk/run last year with CedarsSinai Medical Center Women’s Cancer Research Institute, to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and muchneeded funds for early detection of the disease.

In its second year, the Run For Her 5K run/walk and 3K friendship walk is scheduled to start at 7 a.mSun., Nov. 12 at Cedars-SinaMedical Center in Los Angeles.

“There’s no real early detection method,” said Kelli Sargent, 27Many people, she said, believe pap smears can detect ovarian cancerbut the standard gynecological procedure used to detect cervical cancer is not considered a reliable tesfor ovarian cancer.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer mimic maladies associated with menstruation and menopause, including backache, bloating and nausea.

Last year’s run raised more than $250,000, and Kelli Sargent hopes to beat that figure by at least $50,000. She’s well on her way to meeting the goal with more than 750 people signed up to participate.

Proceeds will benefit the CedarsSinai Women’s Cancer Research Institute, which is part of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The multidisciplinary program is directed by Dr. Beth Karlan.

A new feature introduced this year lets people participate in the walk or run without even setting foot on the course. They can register at www.runforher.com as “sleepwalkers,” and their entire fee will be donated to ovarian cancer research and awareness programs.

Kelli Sargent said there will be several age divisions including children and teens, and several adult and senior levels. Awards will be given out in each of the 15 divisions.

After the race all participants will return to the parking lot for the Finish Line Festival to enjoy food, music, giveaways and awards.

Efforts to raise awareness and funding to fight ovarian cancer is a family affair for the Sargents. Scott Sargent, 24, is in charge of the

Young Guns committee, which is geared toward teenagers, and sister Nicole is also an active organizer. Kelli Sargent credits her father, Mike, as “the driving force behind this year’s event.”

“This is one amazing family,” said Charles Caspary, president of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and a close family friend of the Sargents. Caspary and his family will participate in the run, he said.

Nanci Sargent just celebrated her 60th birthday and is undergoing double doses of chemotherapy. She finished the race last year along with more than 1,000 participants and plans to cross the finish line again this year.

“For my mom, it’s really good medicine,” Kelli Sargent said. “She meets people who inspire her and they give each other strength.”

Organizers suggest arriving early to register, as many streets will be closed. Free parking will be available in parking lot 4 on Sherbourne Street between Third Street and Gracie Allen Drive.

To register for Run For Her, call Christina Watts at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Community Relations Department, (310) 4234586, or e-mail her at Christina.Watts@cshs.org.


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