200-plus raise $35K at Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Marie Hartway, center, of Medina is flanked by her sister-in-law Jennifer Bansbach of Lyndonville, left, and sister Bridget DiCureia of Albion as they wait for the start of the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run Saturday at East Shelby Fire Hall. Hartway is undergoing chemotherapy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute for breast cancer, and said she is walking to “give back.”
EAST SHELBY – The 31st annual Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run on Saturday was again a resounding success, raising more than $35,000 to help families dealing with cancer in Orleans County.
Sandy Persons of Kent stretches her muscles as she waits for the start of the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run on Saturday. A 10-year breast cancer survivor, Persons said she had a friend who walked in a body cast, and if she could do it, so could Persons.
Top finishers were Alden Cayea, 19, of Medina (male) in 19 minutes, 10 seconds; and Mollie Mark, 40, of Medina (female) in 23 minutes, 37 seconds, according to Stacey Knights Pellicano, daughter of the late Richard Knights for whom the race is co-named.
More than 200 of all ages registered to participate in the event, from grandparents to children in strollers to entire families.
The walk was started 30 years ago as a fundraiser by the Knights and Kaderli families who had lost loved ones due to cancer, Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli. Participation has grown each year, allowing the fund to provide thousands of dollars in assistance to cancer patients and their families.
The walk/run annually draws repeat supporters, such as Kristin McAdoo of Medina who has taken part for 20 years. She competed this year with her two sons, 20 and 21, and granddaughter, 5. She wanted to support the race because they helped her father-in-law with expenses before he died, she said.
Twins Darlene Rich and Sharlene Pratt of Medina have run every year as a family. Older sister Fonda Carr is their cheerleader, Rich said. This year they ran with Pratt’s daughter Katie, her two children, her boyfriend and his two children.
Marie Hartway, 51, of Medina showed her determination by walking with sister Bridget DiCureia of Medina and sister-in-law Jennifer Bansbach of Lyndonville. Hartway is undergoing chemotherapy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute for breast cancer. Although she walked on Saturday, a year ago she ran her first marathon, she said.
“The Knights-Kaderli Fund has definitely helped me, and I want to give back,” she said.
DiCureia previously walked for Kelly Schrader Hurrell, who had the same cancer as Marie.
“The lesson you learn is there is not one family cancer doesn’t touch,” Bansbach said.
The Martin family annually joins to support the Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run. Here, Sue, second from left, is joined by her daughter Alicia Dunham and her two children, and son Ben with his wife and son as they wait for the start of the walk.
Hartway, who was diagnosed in February, said exercising helps keep her sane.
“I treat it like my marathon – you just have to keep going,” she said.
Pellicano thanked the families, runners, walkers, those who donated baskets for the raffle and all the volunteers who participated in any way.
Race Management Solutions timed and recorded racers and provided music.
Karen Barber of Medina crosses the finish line with her children Brooks, 5, and Kennedy, 7, during the 31st Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run. The event raised more than $35,000 to help families dealing with cancer in Orleans County.
