Heaven Can Wait 5K walk and run returns to Central Oregon for ninth year on Sunday, June 1

Bend, Ore. – In June 2000 over 1,000 women and men gathered for the first time at the Heaven Can Wait starting line. Some were there as breast cancer survivors, some were there to remember a mother, sister or friend and still others were there to recognize those fighting a disease that continues to affect one in eight women today. The Heaven Can Wait 5K walk and run grows year after year and on Sunday, June 1 Central Oregon will have the chance to participate again. Last year the race attracted more than 2,700 runners and raised more than $80,000 to benefit the St. Charles Sara Fisher Breast Cancer Project.

“It is important that people continue to understand that many lives are affected by breast cancer,” said Charlene Levesque, Heaven Can Wait Race Director. “More importantly, we need to support the services in Central Oregon that give people from all walks of life the tools to fight this disease.”

The St. Charles Sara Fisher Breast Cancer Project funds and supports programs promoting breast health for women and men in Central and Eastern Oregon to include free breast screenings.

Heaven Can Wait will be June 1, 2008 on National Cancer Survivor’s Day at Drake Park. Registration opens on April 25 at www.heavencanwait.org. Cost is $20 to pre-register and $25 on May 31 at FootZone. Registration forms are available at FootZone, Athletic Club of Bend and at the St. Charles Cancer Treatment Center. The race starts on Sunday, June 1 at 9 a.m.