Residents Run to Fight Childhood Cancer

Zack's Run: Race Against Childhood Cancer, an annual 5k race, took place in College Park on Sunday. Located outside of the University of Maryland's Comcast Center, more than 300 local runners showed up for the cause this year.

Now in its 11th year, Zack's Run sponsored is by the The Zachary Hebda Foundation  and has raised more than $400,000 toward childhood cancer research conducted locally in Maryland. 

The foundation and the race were formed by Joe and Kim Hebda as a living memorial for their 5-year-old son Zachary Joseph Hebda who died in 1999 of leukemia.

"Cancer is the No. 1 killer of children under the age of 16," said Joe, who organized the event along with his wife. "I don't think people realize that. Childhood cancer doesn't get the press that it should. Other illnesses get more attention."

While the seriousness of childhood cancer invokes a somber tone,  Zack's Race is  a lively event. There's a competitive 5K race for participants of all ages, and a fun walk for small children and families who want to take their time.

At the start of the race, a live dee-jay cued Rocky's theme song "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti. After a quick: "On your mark, get set, go," runners took off.

There was also free face painting as well as lunch for the runners upon completion of the race.

Awards went to to the top three male and female finishers in each of the seven age brackets. 

Last year, 17-year-old Glenn Spaulding participated in Zack's Run to prove to himself that he could complete the course. Spaulding, a cancer survivor, crossed the finish line in the race's 50th minute.

This year, Spaulding set out to beat his time and did so by 10 minutes. The brain tumor that debilitated him at the age of 14 is now in remission.

Basketball players from the University of Maryland were crowd-pleasers at the event as they sped swiftly through the course.  After the race they took photos with local fans. 

"This is really a good thing for our players," said Maryland men's basketball coach Gary Williams. "Sometimes when you play basketball you get caught up in the season. But there are others things out there, and it's important that the players realize that."

Childhood cancer hits home for Williams whose niece developed a tumor and died at the age of 3.

"When you live to be a certain age, you always know someone who has been affected by cancer," Williams said.

Yolanda Johnson and her 10-year-old son Elijah made the trek from southern Maryland's Brandywine to participate in the event.

"We're here to support the cause. We have cancer in our family so it has made [us] aware of all the different causes and the preventative measures we should take to fight cancer," said Johnson. "We did the fun walk this time, but next year we're going to run."

More than anything, the Hebdas simply wants to raise people's awareness on issues concerning childhood cancer.

"Kids get cancer, and sometimes they die," said Joe Hebda. "The research needs to be conducted."

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