Hoosiers run in support of cancer research

The leader of Team Geno held a sign Saturday, showing a picture of his late son, high above the crowd.

Gene Brewer, father of Eugene “Geno” Brewer, joined more than 5,000 participants and 300 volunteers Saturday at IU’s Memorial Stadium for the 11th annual Hoosiers Outrun Cancer event.

Hoosiers Outrun Cancer is a 5K, family walk and run fundraiser that benefits the Bloomington Hospital Olcott Center for Cancer Education. During the past nine years, the 5K race has raised more than $1.5 million for cancer research.

Gene Brewer said he participates because each year the event brings him closer to his late son, “Geno,” who passed away from a brain tumor in 2005.

Geno was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at IU and attended
Bloomington High School South. Geno was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a deadly form of brain tumor that accounts for about 60 percent of annually diagnosed tumors in the United States.

“Geno was diagnosed with a brain tumor and survived for five years with it,” Brewer said. “We walk and run to honor his memory, and it’s also really part of the effort to support cancer research.”

Brewer has been participating in cancer research fundraising events for the past 10 years, beginning when Geno was diagnosed.

With more than 100 members on Team Geno, including family members, friends and many of Geno’s fraternity brothers, Brewer said he hopes to keep Geno’s memory alive and help support other victims of the disease.

As Team Geno cheered along with other groups, Mark Moore, president and CEO of Bloomington Hospital, spoke at the opening ceremony along with Joan Olcott, founder of the Olcott Center.

IU women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack said the support for the event
was tremendous.

“Give it your best, give it your all,” Legette-Jack said to the crowd. “Do what you
do, people.”

IU President Michael McRobbie and his wife Laurie attended the event as well, emphasizing the importance of funding for cancer research and praising the donations
people made.

“We really appreciate all of the people who come together here with the goal of erasing and eradicating cancer,” McRobbie said.

Cancer survivor and Bloomington High School South senior Danielle Stanton took the stage to rally the crowd with her words of encouragement and hope.

Stanton was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of blood cancer, and spoke about the devastating effects of the disease on her body. But her message was one of optimism for the future.

“With the help of Hoosiers Outrun Cancer and Riley Children’s Hospital of Indianapolis, we come closer to finding a cure every year,” Stanton said.

The event began at the intersection of Dunn and 17th streets and took a scenic route through Bloomington and the IU campus.  

The races ended at 11 a.m., and awards were given to the winners of each event.

Kyle Brehan, 19, of Bloomington, was this year’s 5K run winner with a time of 17:26.
For families and friends of cancer patients, this year’s event was as crucial to cancer research and education as ever before.

“This is how we continue to honor Geno’s memory,” Brewer said. “But we’re also here for cancer awareness and support for all victims of the disease.”