PERRYSBURG – Louann Cummings, a local lung cancer survivor, is the driving force behind a
first-of-its-kind "Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K Rumble Run" on Aug. 29 in Perrysburg.
The family event will incorporate a two-hour motorcycle ride starting at 10 a.m. and a 5K run/one-mile
walk starting at 11 at Perrysburg Junior High School. It will culminate with food, refreshments and live
music at Signature Harley-Davidson in Perrysburg. Suburban Legend, a classic rock-and-roll band from
Perrysburg which names Cummings’ husband, Paul, among its members, will be performing until 2:30 p.m.
Channel 13’s Lee Conklin will lead the 5K run and Toledo mayoral candidate Michael Bell will lead the
motorcycle brigade.
Those who register online at www.FreetoBreathe.org by Aug. 26 pay entry fees of $25 for bike driver, $10
for bike passenger, $25 for runner/walkers and $10 for child runner/walkers. Mail-in entry fees are $28
for bike riders and adult runners, and $13 for bike passengers and child runners. Event day fees are $30
for bike drivers and runners and $15 for bike passengers and child runners.
The registration fee will include the free party, food and beverages. There will be awards for top
runners in each age division of the 5K run and a free T-shirt for all who pre-register. Direct donations
are also welcome.
All proceeds will go to the National Lung Cancer Partnership, which conducts education and research into
the causes and treatment of lung cancer. The disease currently kills more people each year than breast,
prostate, and colon cancers combined. In fact, it’s the number one cancer killer of both men and women
in the U.S. and – like Cummings – many of its victims are life-long non-smokers, a fact which runs
counter to conventional wisdom. Yet lung cancer research is still woefully under-funded.
The Aug. 29 event is a chance to help change that. For questions about the event contact Cummings, local
organizer, at [email protected].
