Debbie's Dream Foundation Raises Awareness of Increased Stomach Cancer Rates with Inaugural Run for Debbie's Dream, 5K Run/Walk and Children's Fun Run

AKRON, Ohio, May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) is proud to announce its first Run for Debbie's Dream, 5K Run/Walk and Children's Fun Run to increase awareness of the increased incidence rate of stomach cancer in young adults and the need to increase funding to combat gastric cancer. The event will take place on Saturday, June 7, at the St. George Fellowship Centre, 3204 Ridgewood Road, Copley, Ohio.

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Your participation in the Run for Debbie's Dream will honor the 22,000 Americans who will learn that they have stomach cancer this year. The day starts out with a Children's Fun Run at 7:30am followed by a 5K run that starts at 8:00am. Participants in the Children's Fun Run will receive a medal. The 5K course is flat and fast and good for setting a new personal record. The top three overall and top three age group 5K runners will receive awards.

Register for the 5K Race by June 1, 2014 and your donation is $20. Plan to bring your little ones as registration for the Children's Fun Run is free! There will be a post-race party and awards ceremony with brats, hotdogs, pizza and beer. Beach Boyz Entertainment will provide the music. All 5K runners and walkers pre-registered by June 1^st will receive a dri-fit race T-shirt.

Ohio Chapter co-founder Angela Bosela was diagnosed with an aggressive, fast-growing stomach cancer at the age of 55. After a 70% gastrectomy and four cycles of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, she has been cancer free for more than seven years. Following her recovery, she has become an accomplished runner. Angela and her husband Paul serve as mentors to stomach cancer patients with the DDF Patient Resource Education Program. Angela's survivor story can be found on the DDF website at http://www.debbiesdream.org/portal/angela-bosela.

Ohio Chapter co-founder Dr. Paul Bosela is a professor emeritus and former chairman of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cleveland State University. The Boselas, along with their daughter Sheila Gambaccini, founded the DDF Ohio Chapter.

"One thing that really shocked me was that since 1977, stomach cancer cases in 25-39 year olds has increased almost 70%. In 2014, the incidence of stomach cancer cases is estimated at over 22,000 with approximately 11,000 deaths. One of the reasons it is so deadly is that it often goes unnoticed until it's too late. The 5-year survival rate of stage IV stomach cancer is only 4%. The overall 5-year survival rate of stomach cancer is 27% (not much better)," said Ohio Chapter co-founder Sheila Gambaccini. "My mom is a 7-year stomach cancer survivor, and it's her story and my parents' involvement in stomach cancer advocacy and DDF that made me want to get involved."

For race registration, volunteering and sponsorship information, please visit: http://www.debbiesdream.org/portal/ohio-5k

ABOUT DEBBIE'S DREAM FOUNDATION: CURING STOMACH CANCER

DDF was founded in 2009 by Debbie Zelman after she was diagnosed with Stage IV incurable stomach cancer in 2008 and given only weeks to live. Zelman immediately began to educate herself about this disease and to seek the best available care. When she responded favorably to her treatment, Debbie founded DDF which now has 20 chapters throughout the United States and Canada and a Medical Advisory Board of 25 renowned doctors from across the country. Now, six years later, Debbie is still receiving chemotherapy and is thrilled to be able to watch her three children grow up.

Media Contacts: 
Jenna Reed  
Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) 
(954) 475-1200, Email 
Paul Bosela 
Ohio Chapter DDF 
(330) 666-6897

SOURCE Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer