Walk of Champions Raises $54,500 for Cancer Services

WARE — The fourth annual Walk of Champions, to benefit the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, was recently held at the Quabbin Reservoir and raised a record-setting $54,500, with 32 teams and more than 750 walkers participating. In 2008, the walk raised $46,200.

“In addition to the walkers, our local businesses were great supporters of the Walk of Champions,” reported Deb Gagnon, Development manager for Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. “They contributed more than $9,000 in sponsorship funds to benefit this year’s event.”

Country Bank for Savings was the 2009 presenting sponsor of the Walk of Champions, and Intercity Lines Inc. of Warren was the gold sponsor. Silver sponsors included Quirk Wire and Health New England, and bronze sponsors were Janine’s Frostee, the West Brookfield Rescue Squad, and BMC Health Net Plan. Many other businesses and groups who sponsored shortcut levels were noted along the route for their support of cancer services at Baystate Mary Lane.

“Patients who are being treated here for cancer benefit from our patient-centered healing environment and the expertise of our medical staff from the Baystate Regional Cancer Program,” Gagnon said. “We also offer family-support counseling, educational materials, pastoral care, and state-of-the art equipment — plus so much more, thanks to the continuing generosity of our community.”

On hand at the registration table were staff from the Baystate Regional Cancer Program, providing information about photographs of the many patient-care items they have been able to purchase over the past three years thanks to the Walk of Champions. These items include infusion pumps, patient recliners, wheelchairs, and vital-sign monitors.

“It was an amazing day; our patients, joined by their families and friends, supported each other during this very moving event,” said Gagnon. “Thank you to all our walkers, our corporate and in-kind sponsors, schools, and volunteers who helped to make this Walk of Champions such a huge success.”

For more information on the Walk of Champions, or to find out how to become involved in next year’s walk, call Gagnon at (413) 967-2458.