Agenda No. 10.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | May 23, 2023 |
| Department: | Parks, Recreation & Community Servic |
| Subject: | Presentation of Kick Cancer Pep Rally & 5K Run Donation to Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. (S. Gonzalez/L. Shrum/C. Paddock) |
BACKGROUND
The Kick Cancer Pep Rally and 5K Run, formerly the Wilenchik Walk for Life, invites the community to come together to rally in support of the many cancer research programs of the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center (Mays Cancer Center).
In 2009, the City hosted the inaugural 5K event in honor of former Schertz City Council member Tony Wilenchik. Tony was diagnosed in 2006 with Stage-4 Leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Tony's determination to face the disease head-on helped the City create a fund-raising event to help research cures for cancer. Since the walk began, more than $193,000 has been raised and donated to the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center to aid in their research.
Kick Cancer allows participants to celebrate cancer research, remember family members lost to cancer, and honor those still flighting.
This year saw a record number of participants with 634 in attendance. A large portion of those participants came from the SCUCISD school district due to a campus challenge city staff created to increase registration. The winner of the team challenge was Paschal Elementary. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors of the event: H-E-B, Schertz Bank & Trust, SAMCO, GVEC, Floor Coverings International, Schertz Cibolo Emergency Clinic, Kiddie Academy, State Farm, RE/MAX, iCode, and QC Kinetix. Thank you to all of our Pep Rally participants as well - the Steele High School Drumline, the Clemens High School Cheerleaders, Chrissy Rae's Dance Academy, and Orange Theory Fitness. Thank you also to our UT-Health speaker - Dr. Daruka. The donation this year totals $10,878.34.
In 2009, the City hosted the inaugural 5K event in honor of former Schertz City Council member Tony Wilenchik. Tony was diagnosed in 2006 with Stage-4 Leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Tony's determination to face the disease head-on helped the City create a fund-raising event to help research cures for cancer. Since the walk began, more than $193,000 has been raised and donated to the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center to aid in their research.
Kick Cancer allows participants to celebrate cancer research, remember family members lost to cancer, and honor those still flighting.
This year saw a record number of participants with 634 in attendance. A large portion of those participants came from the SCUCISD school district due to a campus challenge city staff created to increase registration. The winner of the team challenge was Paschal Elementary. Thank you to our 2023 sponsors of the event: H-E-B, Schertz Bank & Trust, SAMCO, GVEC, Floor Coverings International, Schertz Cibolo Emergency Clinic, Kiddie Academy, State Farm, RE/MAX, iCode, and QC Kinetix. Thank you to all of our Pep Rally participants as well - the Steele High School Drumline, the Clemens High School Cheerleaders, Chrissy Rae's Dance Academy, and Orange Theory Fitness. Thank you also to our UT-Health speaker - Dr. Daruka. The donation this year totals $10,878.34.