Annual Glow Run 5K and walk to light up Utica

UTICA — The 13th annual Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation Glow Run 5K and walk is returning next month and will be an illuminating time.

The race will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sept 14 at Jimmy John’s Field, 7171 Auburn Road in Utica, with tons of glowing items for after dusk. The race will start at sunset and wind through River Bends Park, which will have a variety of glow effects set up to help guide participants during the run. At the end, the finish line will include running across home plate.

Registration for the event is open now, and on Race Day registration will open at 5:30 p.m. with the race kicking off at around 7:40 p.m, in right field at Jimmy John’s Field.

The cost is $45 per person and the proceeds will be used to help young adults, ages 18-39, through survivorship after their cancer treatment.

The Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation states that its mission is to help young adults ages 18 to 40 to social support systems and services that can help them mentally as well as physically. Hines was a high school junior in 2008 when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She graduated on time and attended Michigan State University. She attended some camps for young people with cancer that changed her outlook and gave her strength. Hines fought cancer for approximately four years before she passed away on March 1, 2012.

“We believe that it was those camp experiences that gave Cassie the inner peace to not just live life but experience it in the moment and appreciate all the gifts God gave her,” the foundation states on its website.

Jennifer Daidone, Glow Run co-chair, said that when she first got involved, she was able to meet Hines and became friends with her.

“I got involved with the CHSCF from the start. I met Cassie through my then-next door neighbor — she was her niece. Through the years living next door, we became very good friends and I was fortunate enough to get to know Cassie better. She was such a determined young lady who was on a mission to kick cancer’s butt,” Diadone said.

She said Cassie fought every step of the way — one surgery after another — always with a smile on her face and positive outlook.

“She was such an inspiration to everyone whose lives she touched,” Diadone said. “Her parents, Karen and Chris, are the nicest and (most) caring people you will ever meet — their faith in God carried them through and continues today,” she said.

She said she volunteered to be co-chair of the CHSCF Glow Run so that she could help in some small way to change the lives of some young adults who are battling cancer and send them to a camp for a week where they can connect and make friends with others who are dealing with the same feelings and uncertainties.

“Going to camp was the best experience Cassie had through her illness that helped her relate to other people on her level and who did not treat her as a cancer patient. That is why the foundation started, so that Cassie’s legacy would live on so she could help others experience joy again and make new friendships,” she said.

Ryan Swiatkowski, Glow Run co-chair, said they have volunteers from all over the community who come and give their time, along with the Romeo High School football team volunteering to help direct and cheer on runners on the course.

“We have a DJ playing music and announcing winners, along with videos and pictures of Base 2 Summit, our retreat for young adults recovering or going through cancer, to help show the community what their donations go to help support,” he said.

He said the Glow Run means a lot to the foundation and was the first event that CHSCF put together when it was founded.

“It is how we were able to reach out and talk to the community about an overlooked need that we saw. My dad helped Chris Hines set up the first few Glow Runs and now helps him put on the CHSCF Gala in the spring, and I feel it is kind of a passing of the torch to keep this going, but also in memory of Cassie, since we were friends growing up,” he said.

For more information and to register, visit cassiehinesshoescancer.org/glow-run.