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Thousands run Panerathon
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Hundreds of children take off running during the first Kids Run Sunday at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown. The Kids Run was one of three races offered at the third annual Panerathon, which benefits the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
By Bob Jackson
YOUNGSTOWN
When Debbie Dennison got the news a dozen years ago that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, one terrible thought kept piercing her brain like a spike.
“Oh my god, I just got a death sentence,” said Dennison. “That’s what I kept thinking.”
After all, she’d already known several friends and family members who’d died from various cancers, so she expected the worst for herself. But after fighting through bouts of self-pity and fear, Dennison said she decided to change her attitude to one of optimism and hope, and to get down to the business of getting better.
On Sunday, the 54-year-old Warren woman was among the thousands of people who thronged to downtown Youngstown to be part of the third annual Panerathon, a huge, community-oriented fund-raising event that benefits the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
More than 5,500 adult entrants filled the streets, participating in either a 10K run/walk or a 2-mile run/walk, while some 600 children took part in a quarter-mile run for kids 12 and under.
“It’s amazing,” said Liz Follet, regional marketing director for Covelli Enterprises, who served as race director. “The event just keeps getting bigger every year. Pretty soon, we might outgrow the Covelli Centre.”
She said there were about 2,500 entrants in the first Panerathon two years ago and 4,000 last year.
“I don’t know how high I’m going to set the bar yet, but yes, we’re expecting it to be even bigger next year,” Follet said. “We’re never satisfied. We want to keep growing.”
Because the costs of the event are underwritten by Covelli Enterprises, 100 percent of the proceeds from Panerathon are able to be given to the Abdu Center, which opened Nov. 14, 2011. Proceeds from the first two events went toward construction, while this year’s proceeds of more than $200,000 will go toward funding a program called Joanie’s Promise, said Gina Marinelli, development officer for Humility of Mary Health Partners.
She said the three-pronged program provides funding for uninsured or underinsured women to have a mammogram, provide transportation to and from the center for those tests and for community outreach and educational programs about breast- cancer awareness.
“It lets women know that you don’t have to die from breast cancer. There is help available,” Marinelli said.
Dennison, who wore a pink T-shirt with the word “survivor” printed across the back, said she is happy to participate in events such as the Panerathon because it helps raise awareness about breast cancer.
“Twelve years ago, I wasn’t sure that I’d be around to do something like this,” she said. Dennison didn’t run or walk Sunday, but was there to support her husband, David Dominic, who ran in the 10K. But she said the electric atmosphere almost certainly will have her among the runners and walkers for next year’s event.
Lenny and Patty Hall of Boardman, with their daughter, Alison, also were among the participants Sunday. Like Dennison, Patty Hall is a breast-cancer survivor, having been diagnosed nine years ago.
“It’s great to be able to come out and run like this after going through that,” said Patty, 52. She ran in the two-mile event, while Lenny, 52, and Alison, 20, were in the 10K race. The couple’s other daughter, Lyndsie, has run in the Panerathon in the past but recently left to attend graduate school at the University of Cincinnati.
Mark and Jennifer Cooley of Austintown donned the navy-blue shirts sported by a team sponsored by Mark’s employer, DRS, located on Belmont Avenue, and came out to take part. Each of them pushed a stroller with one of the couple’s two children, 21-month-old Paige and 9-month-old Ben.
“It’s a nice walk,” said Jennifer, 36. “We did it last year, and we had a lot of fun. The people are all really friendly.”
Alexa Sweeney, 32, of Boardman, took part with a team of some 110 employees and friends from Sweeney Chevrolet. She was pushing a stroller with her daughter, Finley, who will turn 2 next month.
“This is a great cause, and it’s a great way for our staff to get out and be involved in the community,” Sweeney said.
Numerous teams were sponsored by local businesses, media outlets and personalities, and political candidates, each wearing matching T-shirts from virtually every color of the rainbow.
There also were dozens of athletes from Youngstown State University’s sports teams.
“It’s a great cause, and Sam Covelli has been a great supporter of the city of Youngstown, and of Youngstown State University,” said Ron Strollo, YSU athletic director. “Plus, we just finished the first week of school, so this gets our kids around each other and gives them something to do for the weekend while they’re helping the community.”