AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) – Kelly’s Cause for Brain Tumors held their final Bob Burns Memorial 5K.
“Being involved in something like this is absolutely incredible. The people you meet, the stories you hear, and getting to meet people that your cause has helped, and your events have helped, really, there’s nothing like it,” said Matt James of 92 Moose, a supporter of the cause.
“I thought ‘you know what, I’ve been practicing 5K’s for cross country this fall’ and I figured you know what, why not come out here and support a great cause,” said Elijah Pelkey, who participated in the race.
Kelly Theberge started her cause in honor of her father who she lost to brain cancer.
The 5K and the cause as a whole supports research and treatments through The National Brain Tumor Society as well as those in Central Maine affected by brain tumors.
This year’s race raised $12,000.
“There is no cure for brain cancer. There’s minimal treatment options and the life expectancy is less than five years. So, when people get diagnosed, it is a fast, vicious disease. So, to have as much research funding as we can to increase the quality of life, the life expectancy for people, is just so important,” Theberge stated.
While it is the final 5K, Kelly’s Cause for Brain Tumors will continue fundraising through a range of other events in the area.
“It’s very bittersweet to be here for the final 5K after doing twelve of these and our message to the community is just to be involved, whether it’s with our cause or somebody else’s cause, stay involved and just be the change that you want to see,” James said.
“We are still a committee. We are still Kelly’s Cause for Brain Tumors Committee and we’ll still be doing events outside of doing the 5K. So, we do a lot of pop-up events, or it might be a night out at a local bar or restaurant, and we’ll charge admission, get auction items, make it fun while it’s obviously not a fun thing to be going through,” Theberge explained.
