Superhero theme adds levity to Candlelighters’ fundraiser 5K

From 75 people raising $1,000 in 1990 to more than 2,000 people raising more than $170,000 in 2014, the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada's annual 5K has grown to be the organization's premier fundraiser.

This year's race, the Superhero 5K with Chet Buchanan, is scheduled for Sept. 12 at Exploration Peak Park in the Mountain's Edge master-planned community, 9600 S. Buffalo Drive.

Candlelighters Executive Director Melissa Cipriano said the money the race brings in makes a tremendous impact on the organization's mission and helps spread awareness in the community.

"People don't like to think that children get sick and cancer happens," she said.

But the reality is, cancer does strike children.

Cipriano said the organization assists around 200 families with active cases of childhood cancer through their journey each year. Because the organization embraces a family-centered approach and includes siblings in social and counseling sessions, the number of children served is closer to 600.

"Siblings are often referred to as the shadow survivor," she said, as parents take time off from work and the family gets turned upside down.

Luxuries such as dance lessons and soccer games are suspended as siblings are shuffled between neighbors, friends and family, she said.

"It's important that we recognize our siblings," Cipriano said. "That's why on race day, you're going to see our survivors in red capes that say cancer survivor and our siblings in blue capes."

They won't be the only ones in capes: The race's superhero theme — a recent addition to the 25-year-old event — attracts masked and costumed characters of all ages, with even four-legged canine caped crusaders racing for the cause.

Cipriano said one of the race's biggest heroes is its founder, Mark Grenier.

"We have this amazing race chair, Mark Grenier, who started this race as a total grass-roots effort all on his own with very few committee members, and 25 years later, he has stuck with it," she said.

In 1984, Grenier lost his 51-year-old father to prostate cancer. He and his siblings vowed to honor their father's fight in some way.

A few years later, Grenier was working with the Las Vegas Stars (now the 51s) baseball team when he brought team members and the mascot to meet Jared, a 9-year-old who was fighting cancer and recovering from brain surgery.

Grenier stayed in touch, and when the boy died a year later, he started the race to benefit Candlelighters in honor of the work the organization had done to help Jared and his family.

This year, the race turns 25, and the festivities are set to include a tribute to Grenier's dad. He said his siblings — older brother Chris from Santa Cruz, Calif., and younger siblings Mary Evans from Roseville, Calif., and Matt Grenier from Santa Cruz — are planning to come out to support the cause.

Grenier said he works on the race starting in January most years. There have been times he has considered backing off, but when he sees the kids and the impact the organization makes on them, he sticks with it.

"The money raised stays right here," he said. "I know where it goes and how it's spent. They're small, but they do some incredible things in Southern Nevada."

Cipriano said the event is set to include a competitive 5K run with prizes for first, second and third place in different age divisions, a 5K fun walk and a 1-mile fun walk. Wheelchair divisions will be offered, too.

Grenier said seeing the park packed with people all dressed up is fun, and the costumes get more elaborate every year. Last year, he saw a man in full Superman body paint.

"But the real superheros are the Candlelighters Kids," he said.

Two of those children are set to be honored as Superhero Ambassadors this year. Dace Ash Davis, 5, is battling leukemia, and Keenan Bly was almost 8 when he died from a rare form of liver cancer in 2007. He still inspires those who knew him and is the race's Super Angel Ambassador.

Event-day registration is set to begin at 6:30 a.m. The race and walk are slated to start at 8:15 a.m.; and festivities are scheduled to continue until noon. Visit candlelighersnv.org or call 702-737-1919. Superhero capes are being sold for $5 while supplies last at the Candlelighters office, 8990 Spanish Ridge Ave., Suite 100.

— Contact View contributing reporter Ginger Meurer at gmeurer@viewnews.com. Find her on Twitter: @gingermmm.