Over 100 runners of all ages came out to the Dan-D Farms on Saturday morning for the 8th annual Nana Jana Fun Run, a 5K run dedicated to helping with research and education about ovarian cancer.
The run goes through the Dennison family’s farm fields south of Knoxville; but it’s part race and part obstacle course…as the organizers include hurdles such as tires and hay bales for the runners to navigate.
Proceeds will go to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in memory of Dan Dennison’s wife; he tells KNIA/KRLS News she died as a result of this disease, which is often hard to detect until it’s too late.
“My wife passed away eight years ago with ovarian cancer; and so this is something we thought we’d do to bring awareness to ovarian cancer and the signs of it and let people know that people are working on it, and they’re not by (themselves). Plus, raising some money to help with education,” says Dennison.
If detected early, around 85 percent of those with ovarian cancer survive; but if it’s found in the late stages, survival drops to 20 to 25 percent.
The KNIA/KRLS Lil’ Big Red Radio was on the scene for the event, playing music and making announcements for the runners.