Garrettsville – Friends of Melana (FOM) are seeking sponsors for their Second Annual 5K Run and One Mile Fun Run for kids’ cancer held during Garrettsville’s SummerFest this year. The race will be held on Sunday June 24, 2012 at 9am in beautiful downtown Garrettsville. FOM held their inaugural race last year during SummerFest and had nearly 200 participants between the two events and raised nearly $2500. Race Directors Jacob Vaughan and Diana Morris would like to see this event become one of the biggest races in Portage County and to do so they need your help. This year they are elevating the event by offering opportunities for individuals, small businesses and corporations to participate in sponsorship. The sponsorships start at $250 for the Bronze Level and go on up to $4500 for the Presenting Level. The Presenting Level will receive the following benefits: 1. Top billing on all advertising 2. Recognition on all media promotions 3. Sponsor name or logo on race T-shirt 4. Logo on race bib 5. Sponsor name or logo on promotional flyers 6. Sponsor’s material in race participant’s “Goodie Bag” 7. Sponsor logo on advertising posters 8. Sponsor logo on direct mail piece 9. Ten complimentary race entries (includes race T-shirt) 10. Individual promotional table at race 11. Sponsor name or logo for START/FINISH LINE BANNER 12. First Rights of Refusal for next year Platinum level is $2500 and sponsor will receive the first nine benefits listed above. The Gold level is $1000 and will receive the first seven benefits. The Silver level is $500 and will receive the first 5 benefits. The Bronze level is $250 and will receive the first three benefits. By sponsoring the race you will have the opportunity to help the group raise funds for the research of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) DIPG is a rare form of brain cancer that strikes children generally between the ages of five and ten years old, with only 2% surviving a year after diagnosis and the majority succumbing to the disease within 9-12 months. The diagnosis leaves families with little or no hope. What is also frustrating to them is there has been little or no research done for DIPG and what little has been done has made no advance in 30 years. The disease is rare so it is underfunded and gets very few research dollars. FOM hopes to change that by providing information about the disease and raising funds for research. FOM was initially established to support Melana’s family through prayers and finances as they navigated the road of cancer. When Melana earned her wings on October 27, 2009, the group shifted its focus from support to raising funds for research, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. Melana was a nine-year old vivacious girl who loved life, animals, nature, and soccer, had a huge menagerie of Webkinz and lived her life to the fullest. The young girl, who knew no stranger, lived by the motto “Just Keep Swimming,” brought the entire community together as they prayed for a miracle and helped raise funds to defray her medical costs, but it wasn’t enough. Her friends and family watched helplessly as DIPG robbed Melana of her childhood. Despite being a prisoner in her own body Melana’s spirit never wavered, even when the disease progressed, leaving her with little motor skill function and confined to a wheel chair the last few months of her life. Melana earned her wings and departed this earth in 2009, leaving behind a devastated family and community. It was her zest for life that made an impact on the group and the fact that no one wants to see anther child endure what Melana did. This group is dedicated to raising funds for research with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for this horrible disease. Questions and sponsorship forms can be obtained by contacting Director Jacob Vaughan at (330)632-0072 or email vaughanjs@my.hiram.edu or Assistant Director Diana Morris at (330)628-0759 or email be4him.oh@sbcglobal.net. or contact Norm Fashing at 330 527-8093. FOM is a 501c3 organization and all sponsorships are tax deductible. Sign-ups for the race can be done through summerfest5k.eventbrite.com
