Event rolls over cancer research fundraising goal

Sometimes, it takes a fund-raiser two or three years to gain traction.

If that's the case for the first-ever Walk & Roll Elgin held last weekend at Festival Park in Elgin, then the event has a bright future.

A total of 417 people signed up to walk five miles, in-line skate 10 miles or bike 15 miles.

More people signed up that morning and, overall, $81,000 was raised toward cancer research. The goal was $55,000.

Elgin resident Greg Share and his sister, Michelle Share Bergeron, began organizing the fundraiser earlier this year in honor of their parents, both cancer survivors.

Share said he hopes to make it an annual event.

"It was pretty fantastic," he said, noting one Elgin resident raised $2,800 alone. "The community really took to it well."

Elgin is one of two cities to hold new Walk & Roll events in Illinois this year. Rockford will hold its first this weekend.

Overall, there are only four in the state. Chicago has held the event for 37 years and it usually raises more than $1 million. The suburban North Shore event is in its second year.

Keri Nelson, income development representative for the American Cancer Society, credited Share and his sister for taking the lead and getting city officials and businesses involved.

She said three-quarters of the participants walked, but about 15 skated and gave it high marks.

Nelson said another reason the fundraiser was a success is because cancer affects everyone somehow.

"It's a cause a lot of people can get behind," she said. "A lot of people have a connection to cancer and have unfortunately been touched by the disease."

Organizers are looking for volunteers for next year's event.

For details, call (630) 879-9009, ext. 3, or e-mail keri.nelson@cancer.org.