During festivities, emcee and “helpful husband” John Zediker said the walk started by his wife, Ann, 11 years ago, had raised $85,000 by the time of the ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:45AM.
“That’s as good or better than ever!” said John Zediker, noting the walk had attracted about 500 participants, and that other funds raised from the 50/50 raffle and anything raised from other upcoming Naperville events on behalf of Lustgarten will be part of the 2021 tally.
In addition to a 50-50 Raffle, festivities included a “balloon twister” and a painting station provided by Pinot’s Palette as well as plenty of team spirit.
Watch for registration notice of the 2022 Lustgarten Foundation Naperville Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk next summer. Cheers to another beautiful summer morning!
Update, July 17, 2021 / According to the hourly forecast on the Weather Channel, tomorrow morning, Sun., July 18, is expected to be partly sunny in the mid-to-high 70s when the 2021 Lustgarten Foundation Naperville Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk returns to the Naperville Riverwalk Grand Pavilion.
The walk is to raise funds and awareness for the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Registration check-in begins at 8:30AM. The event kicks off at 9:45AM Sun., July 18, at the Naperville Riverwalk Grand Pavilion.
Individuals and teams are welcome, according to local walk leaders Ann Zediker and Jennifer Tedrow. Pets on leashes also are welcome.
“I got involved in the Lustgarten Naperville walk after my Dad passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016,” said Tedrow, co-leader of the walk. “I was drawn to Lustgarten because 100% of donations go directly toward fighting pancreatic cancer. I feel strongly that this is a material way for us to fight back against this terrible disease and make a difference in honor of loved ones that we have lost as well as those who are fighting today.”
For 2021, active participants may participate in-person or by choosing a “neighborhood” option. Note also that participants may walk together or individually, depending on local protocols.
To date, the Naperville Walk has raised more than $750,000, all of which has gone to pancreatic cancer research.
Original Post, May 30, 2021 / The 2021 Lustgarten Foundation Naperville Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk returns to the Naperville Riverwalk Grand Pavilion on Sunday morning, July 18, to raise funds and awareness for the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
Though continued COVID-related restrictions may prevent the annual in-person event from welcoming hundreds of walkers as it has in the past, the number of active participants may be even larger than previous years thanks to the addition of a “neighborhood” option.
Note also that participants may walk together or individually, depending on local protocols.
“Last year (2020) would have been our tenth annual Naperville event, so we were especially disappointed by the walk cancellation,” said Jason Rice, Lustgarten National Director of Events, “However, the silver lining has been the creation of an expansive neighborhood event allowing participants from literally anywhere to raise funds and then walk in their own neighborhoods on the same day as the in-person event. We’re excited that entire families are now able to participate together despite their geographical distance.”
For individuals like Ann Zediker, who lost her father to pancreatic cancer, the Naperville Walk is an important opportunity to honor loved ones who have died from the disease, to support patients currently fighting for their lives, celebrate the rare survivor, and fund research into earlier detection, better treatments and ultimately a cure.
“We only had six months with my dad after he was diagnosed,” Zediker said. “I became a walk leader because I don’t want anyone else to have to go through the devastation my family experienced. Pancreatic cancer is especially crushing because there really aren’t any warning signs until it’s too late—it’s almost always discovered after it has spread and there is little doctors can do. That’s why there are so few survivors and it’s one reason why I support the Lustgarten Foundation. Another is because 100% of the money raised funds pancreatic cancer research, which is the only way we’ll make pancreatic cancer a curable, survivable disease.”
To date, the Naperville Walk has raised more than $750,000, all of which has gone to pancreatic cancer research.
The 2021 event kicks off at 9:45AM Sun., July 18, at the Naperville Riverwalk Grand Pavilion.
Kindly note: Attendance may be limited based on state and local health and safety guidelines; however, anyone can register as a neighborhood participant, raise funds and then walk when they want, where they want on July 18. Participants are encouraged to share their walk-day experience by posting photos and videos to social media and tagging the Lustgarten Foundation at @LustgartenFDN.
The Naperville Walk is sponsored locally by john greene Enterprises, Elle Services and 101.9 The Mix.
Register today at lustgarten.org/napervillewalk or call 1.866.789.1000 for more information. Thanks to everyone for support!
Lustgarten Foundation since 1998
Lustgarten Foundation is the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research in the world. Based in Woodbury, N.Y., the Foundation’s mission is to cure pancreatic cancer by funding scientific and clinical research related to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer; providing research information and clinical support services to patients, caregivers and individuals at high risk; and increasing public awareness and hope for those dealing with this disease.
Since its inception, the Lustgarten Foundation has directed more than $200 million to research and has assembled the best scientific minds with the hope that one day, a cure can be found. Thanks to separate funding to support administrative expenses, 100% of donations fund lifesaving pancreatic cancer research.
For more information, visit www.lustgarten.org.
FYI: November is pancreatic cancer awareness month. Purple is the official pancreatic cancer color.
Click here for a link to a brief history of the Lustgarten Naperville Walk that dates back to 2011.
