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Thousands Run For Moffitt, Hope

Jason Behnken/The Tampa Tribune

Over 3,000 participated in the third annual St. Petersburg Bank Miles for Moffitt 5K race and 1 mile walk-run held on the University of South Florida campus

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 2008

TAMPA - Finding new ways to fight cancer is a daily race for medical researchers.

On Saturday morning, 3,051 people joined the effort by completing the third annual St. Petersburg Bank Miles for Moffitt 5K race and 1 mile walk-run held on the University of South Florida campus.

The turnout for the event, which benefits research at Moffitt Cancer Center, exceeded organizers' expectations, spokeswoman Mary Estes said. The start of the race was held up for more than half an hour because participants were still lined up at the registration tables.

As racers approached the finish line, their expressions showed determination, happiness and exhaustion.

Several ran together as teams, wearing T-shirts bearing the names of those who are still fighting cancer and those who succumbed to the disease.

Gulping down water after the race, Beth Wonicker-Cook, 41, of Palm Harbor, stopped to say Saturday was her first time running the Moffitt 5K, though she has run competitively in marathons and triathlons for several years.

In February, she qualified for the Boston Marathon after completing the Gasparilla Distance Classic.

Ten days later, doctors diagnosed her with cervical cancer, she said.

Thus far, she's avoided needing surgery, but she is still in the middle of her radiation treatments at Moffitt.

When she finished the race, Wonicker-Cook turned around and ran back to cheer on other survivors as they made it through the final yards, she said.

"I finished the race in 23 minutes and 49 seconds," she said. "That's a little slower than earlier this year, but hey, I'm just glad I'm out there."

The words "I made it," ran through the mind of survivor Alan McLain as he passed over the finish line, he said.

McLain, 55, of Tampa, was treated for esophageal cancer nine years ago at Moffitt, he said.

"Moffitt cured me – Moffitt, God and a lot of prayers," he said.

"I've never trained for anything like this," said the first-time participant.

Seeing the crowd gave him a sense of the camaraderie, he said. "If we find a cure for any of them, we find a cure for all," McLain said.

Sponsors of the event, which included the Tribune and News Channel 8, covered the cost of organizing the race, and so all registration fees and pledged donations will go directly to Moffitt's cancer research, she said.

Organizers did not have a total for the amount raised Saturday but expected it will far exceed last year's total of $75,000, Estes said.

The overall male winner in the 5K race was Austin Richmond, 22, of Clewiston, who came in at 15 minutes, 17.9 seconds. The overall female winner was Melanie Peters, 24, of St. Petersburg, with a time of 17 minutes, 18.8 seconds.

The first male cancer survivor to cross the finish line was Mark Dobersch, 40, of Lakeland, with a time of 17 minutes, 53 seconds. The first female survivor to finish was Calley Masson, 34, of Dunedin, with a time of 19 minutes, 49.6 seconds.

Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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