A fundraising walk to support those fighting cancer and named for a Bel Air woman who died from the disease will take place on May 11.
The Amanda Hichkad CCA Celebration Walk at The John Carroll School in Bel Air raises money for Cancer LifeNet, an organization offering supportive care services to residents of Harford and Cecil counties who are dealing with cancer, regardless of where they receive treatment, according to a news release. Since its inception in 2014, the walk has raised more than $1.1 million for Cancer LifeNet.
Cancer LifeNet, operating solely on philanthropic support, has an annual budget of $1 million, according to the release. Located at the Kaufman Cancer Center in Bel Air, it provides a range of services to help patients and their families navigate the challenges of cancer treatment. Nurses, social workers, and specialists collaborate in offering care.
The UM Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation partnered with the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance in 2014 to establish this fundraiser. The event unites community members in support of Cancer LifeNet, with numerous walk teams, including those organized by UM Upper Chesapeake Health leaders and departments.
The walk is named in honor of the late Amanda Hichkad, a Bel Air wife and mother of three boys who died from cancer in September 2014. Hichkad received services from Cancer LifeNet during her treatment and her family continues to support the organization.
Hichkad was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008 shortly after giving birth to her youngest son. After her diagnosis, she went through treatment and the cancer went into remission for 3 1/2 years before returning in 2012.
One standout team, Team KCC Hich-hikers, founded during the inaugural walk, has raised more than $48,000 in the past decade, according to the release. Led by Diane Fitzgerald, executive director of the Kaufman Cancer Center, and Nicole Fowler, manager or Tumor Registry and Accreditations, the team is on track to reach this year’s $8,500 goal.
Fitzgerald said that many of her colleagues who knew Hichkad joined the walk team because they had been directly involved in her care.
“She held a special place in our hearts, and we wanted to be part of the walk in her honor and in honor of the other special patients we care for each day,” Fitzgerald said in the release.
The walk, which is set to start at 8 a.m., features various fundraising activities and symbolizes community solidarity in supporting Cancer LifeNet’s vital services, according to the release.
Patsy Astarita, director of Oncology Integrated Health at the Kaufman Cancer Center, said the resilience and grace of individuals like the event’s namesake. This year’s walk aims to raise $125,000, with community members encouraged to join as team captains, sponsors, participants, or donors, according to the release.
“Her grace was amazing to me,” said Astarita in the release. “She embraced the gifts and love that were offered throughout her cancer journey and, in turn, offered the same to others.”
The event, a one-mile walk around the John Carroll turf field, welcomes individuals of all ages, with a registration fee of $25 for participants aged 13 and above. Children under 12 can join for free. Those raising $50 or more will receive a commemorative gift. Corporate and community support is crucial for the walk’s success.
In the past year alone, over 2,100 individuals have benefited from Cancer LifeNet’s programs and services, with more than 22,000 cancer patients and family members utilizing their free offerings since its establishment 18 years ago.
