Elgin race to benefit esophageal cancer research

Bob Geier's beaming smile stuck with his family after his life was cut short by esophageal cancer in 2011. That grin, though, would soon inspire a 5K in his honor.

Geier's legacy has remained a beacon of hope for the Elgin community. The Smiles 4 Bob 5K has been raising money for the Esophageal Cancer Action Network since 2012 when daughter Kayla, who is now 27, was helped by her mother Jan, brother Lucas, and sister Meghan, in organizing the event.

"After my dad passed away, I wanted to find a way to remember him and then raise money for funding research and awareness," said Kayla Geier. "Because, like many others, we had never heard of it until my dad got diagnosed."

The fourth annual event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 195 Nesler Road, Elgin. The goal is to raise $15,000 to bring the event's four-year total to $60,000. Geier is expecting more than 200 runners and walkers to participate.

Despite being one of very few fundraisers tailored specifically to esophageal cancer, organizers have worked to make the event more personal to the community and recognize locals who have been affected.

"We've been able to reach out to people in the community and to others with friends or family that have passed away," Geier said, "so we put pictures of them throughout the racecourse. Those families really appreciate running or walking and seeing their loved ones there."

During April, which is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, Geier and other volunteers posted fliers on local businesses and handed out brochures within the community.

They have worked in partnership with the Esophageal Cancer Action Network for the last three years. The organization was founded by Mindy Mordecai, a native of Munster, Indiana. Despite currently residing in Maryland, she feels a sense of kinship with activists near Chicago.

"This event is near and dear to my heart just because I grew up in Chicagoland," Mordecai explained. "I was really thrilled when we can do events in Chicago. I have special fondness for things we do there."

After losing her husband to esophageal cancer, she started the organization to raise awareness for the disease and prevent other families from suffering the same fate.

One American is killed every 36 minutes by esophageal cancer, a disease that has increased in diagnosis by 600 percent in the US over the last 35 years. It is often caused by persistent heartburn or acid reflux disease.

Almost 17,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with the disease this year, and 15,590 are predicted to die. Mordecai said the main goal is promoting awareness and early detection.

"Our real goal is to get our message out to the public that reflux disease is not something to laugh about. It's something to pay attention to and talk to your doctor about," Mordecai said. "If it's discovered before it becomes cancer, it can be treated and in most cases cured. There aren't many cancers you can say that about."

Preregistration for Smiles 4 Bob 5K is $25 and day-of registration is $30. Visit www.smiles4bob5k.com for details.