The HERA Foundation Presents the Susan Sandoval Ovarian Cancer Run

Salt Lake City, UT. (July 16, 2009) September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and in Salt Lake City, several organizations are joining forces to aid in the fight against ovarian cancer by creating awareness of symptoms, risk factors and raising funds for innovative research. On September 19, the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation and its longtime sponsor Montrail, maker of trail running and hiking footwear, join the University of Utah Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to present the Third Annual Susan Sandoval Run for Ovarian Cancer. The event is held at Salt Lake City’s Sugarhouse Park (1330 East 2100 South) and offers participants a 1.5-mile and 3-mile course option, as well as a 1.5-mile walk that kicks off at 8:00 a.m.

Registration is $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12, and each participant receives a t-shirt and goodie bag. Registration is limited, so participants are encouraged to register early at www.medicine.utah.edu. On site registration is available starting at 7:00 a.m. the day of the race.

In its third year, the running event was inspired by Susan Sandoval, a nurse at LDS and Primary Children’s hospitals for 21 years who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May 2005, and passed away in May 2007 at the age of 53. The event will be held during the HERA Foundation’s Eighth Annual Climb4Life Utah hosted by Black Diamond Climbing Equipment Sept. 17–20, and provides an option for those who don’t climb but want to get outside and do something active to fight ovarian cancer. Last year the Sandoval run raised over $10,000 and brought in 300 runners and walkers.

“Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies, yet more than 90 percent of women have a five-year survival rate when the cancer is caught in an early stage. Unfortunately, more than 75 percent of women are diagnosed after the disease has spread,” says Dr. Mark Dodson, Gynecologic Oncologist at the University of Utah’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “When women know what signs and symptoms to look for, the chance of catching ovarian cancer early increases drastically. Our partnership with HERA enables us to reach more people with this vital information.”


“Montrail is thrilled to continue our partnership with HERA while also working with the University of Utah to help raise money for and educate women about ovarian cancer,” says Erin Brosterhous of Montrail. “As a outdoor footwear company, we encourage and promote a dynamic and healthy lifestyle. The Susan Sandoval Run for Ovarian Cancer, in conjunction with the HERA Climb4Life Utah event, is a perfect platform to increase awareness of this deadly disease and its symptoms, while at the same time having fun and being active.”

For more information regarding the 3rd Annual Susan Sandoval Run for Ovarian Cancer, please contact Renee Chase at renee.chase@hsc.utah.edu.


HERA Climb4Life Seven Summit Sponsors:
Arc’teryx, Black Diamond Climbing Equipment, BlueWater Ropes, Climbing Magazine, Evolv, FoxRiver, Guyot Designs, MadRock Climbing, Montrail (Visionary Sponsor), Mountain Hardwear, Omega Pacific, Patagonia, Petzl, prAna, REI, Rock & Ice, Sea to Summit, SMC, Stonewear Designs, Trail Runner Magazine, The North Face, and Women’s Adventure Magazine.

Salt Lake City Sponsors: Centered City Yoga, Cory Mon and the Starlight Gospel, DJ Juggy, Front Climbing Gym, Gear Loop Topos, Liberty Heights Fresh, Mill Creek Coffee, Misty Murphy, Momentum, REI, Rico’s. Rockreation,, Skullcandy, Trio, U of U Digi Labs, Utah Mountain Adventures, XYIENCE


About the HERA Foundation
The HERA Foundation is a registered 501 (c) 3, whose mission is to stop the loss of women and girls to ovarian cancer by empowering women to take control of their health, empowering the medical community to find new directions in ovarian cancer research and empowering communities to provide support. HERA is an acronym for Health, Empowerment, Research and Awareness. For more information, visit www.herafoundation.org.


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