Athens, Ga. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is hosting its annual In Their Shoes 10K Athens kick-off party on Feb. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. This annual event raises funds for Piedmont Athens Regional’s Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support.
The In Their Shoes kick-off party, which will take place at the Loran Smith Center on the hospital’s campus, will include food, drinks, music and raffles. The event is free to those registered for the upcoming In Their Shoes Athens 10K on March 23 and $10 for those not registered.
“We are so excited to once again host this fun, annual community event,” said Joel Siebentritt, manager of support services at the Loran Smith Center, “The In Their Shoes Athens 10K is so important for the people in our community, as it not only honors and remembers community members, friends and family members diagnosed with cancer, but it also helps raise funds for the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support.”
The Loran Smith Center at Piedmont Athens Regional offers cancer patients and their families professionally-led support programs to assist them through their journey with cancer – regardless of where they receive cancer treatment.
Funds raised through the In Their Shoes Athens 10K kick-off party as well as the 10K walk or run event all support the free programs offered at the Loran Smith Center. Since its start, the two events have raised over $1.4 million for the center.
“The kick-off party is intended to be a fun environment for us to get our community excited about the upcoming 10K,” Siebentritt said. “And of course, there will be people there to assist attendees interested in registering to walk or run.”
In Their Shoes, which has been around since 2006, helps local survivors like Clark Scales, who’s been a member of the Athens-Clarke County community for just over 15 years. Scales was first diagnosed with cancer nearly 12 years ago, and he’s been enjoying the free support services since then.
Like many of the patients that the Loran Smith Center sees, Scales sought guidance through the Loran Smith Center’s free services throughout his cancer journey.
“Coming to the Loran Smith Center is almost like coming to church,” Scales said. “It’s a sanctuary. It’s peaceful and quiet, and you’re walking into a place where the people care about you. I’ve met a lot of people and have heard a lot of other people’s journeys. It’s all very uplifting.”
Scales is a regular attendee of the Loran Smith Center’s monthly Love and Laughter Luncheons, which feature special guest speakers each month. He’s enjoyed the lectures and knowledge gained at Love and Laughter. The luncheons, however, are just one of many of the free services the center provides.
“We have free workshops, seminars and individual counseling that address the physical and mental side effects of cancer treatment, as well as other complementary therapies, like yoga, tai chi and healing touch” Siebentritt said. “Funds raised through In Their Shoes help us offer these amazing services for free to our community.”
Register for In Their Shoes 10K Run/Walk