FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Jennifer Schoen Gilbert
Vice President of Communications
jenny@tebstroops.org
(Chicago) July 20, 2010 — Teb’s Troops Holds its Fourth Annual 5K Fundraiser: Teb’s Troops’ March on Melanoma Chicago 5K, Sponsored by Stowell & Friedman, Ltd.
In 2010, Teb’s Troops celebrates its fifth anniversary with the March on Melanoma Chicago 5K. Teb’s Troops, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing HOPE to those affected by Melanoma by financially supporting organizations which fund the treatment, prevention and research of cancer, including Melanoma. This run continues the fifth successful year of raising significant funds and awareness for the fight against melanoma. The event will be held Sunday, July 25, 2010 starting at 9 a.m. at Montrose Harbor in Chicago. To register for the 5K, go to: www.tebstroops.org.
The first 250 people to register receive a technical t-shirt and goodie bag. Dermatologists will be on hand to provide free skin screenings to all 5K participants on a first come, first served basis. Our goodie bag is valued at over $50.00. The goodie bags, nylon cinch saks provided by CancerCare, are loaded with Unilever products, including, but not limited to: Caress body wash, Lipton Cup-a-Soup, Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner, Vaseline Lip Therapy, Axe Deodorant Body Spray, Lipton Green Tea To Go, All Small & Mighty Concentrated Laundry Detergent, and much, much more. The goodie bags will also contain a variety of Kelloggs’ cereals and Rice Krispie treats. Kellogg’s has also generously provided us with a wide variety of snacks for our participants to enjoy post-race.
Dina Bair, a melanoma survivor and host of WGN’s Medical Watch on Channel 9 will act as the Master of Ceremonies and speak regarding her own personal battle with the disease. Dina will be joined by other Chicagoland media personalities, including Amy Freeze (Fox News), John Garcia (ABC-7), Tom Negovan (WGN), Anthony Ponce (NBC-5), Ramblin’ Ray Stevens (US 99), and Amy Jacobsen (WIND).
Teb’s Troops was established by Tanya Bowman, Amy Campbell, Sarah Fischer, Jennifer Schoen Gilbert and Nadine McSpadden to honor their friend Tricia E. Black, or “Teb,” who was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma in May 2005. At the time of her diagnosis, Teb was 29 years old and living in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband, Michael, and 9-month-old son, Sam. Teb was a vivacious young woman who lost her brave battle against melanoma in July 2006. She was a champion for raising both awareness of melanoma and hope for others fighting the disease and Teb’s Troops is her legacy. Teb’s spirit lives on through the help of the volunteers, or “troops,” who continue to support the organization’s efforts to beat melanoma.
Melanoma is the most deadly, least treatable of all skin cancers, accounting for most skin cancer related deaths. The number of new cases of melanoma is increasing at an alarming rate; indeed, incidents of melanoma are rising faster than any other cancer. If caught in its early stages, melanoma is almost always curable. However, if left untreated (or unnoticed), melanoma can metastasize rapidly to other parts of the body. Once melanoma has metastasized, the situation is grave. At present, there is no therapy available that consistently treats late stages of melanoma successfully.
Teb’s Troops’ vision is simple: To make a profound impact in the quest to find a cure for late-stage melanoma. So come one, come all, and together we can make a difference!
A very special thanks to our sponsors! STOWELL & FRIEDMAN, LTD.; JACK MILLER FAMILY FOUNDATION, JACK AND GOLDIE WOLFE MILLER FUND; ABBOT LABORATORIES; NEAL, GERBER & EISENBERG, LLP; In-Kind: Melanoma Research Foundation; CancerCare; Keeli Mickus.com; C2 Legal; Unilever; Kellogg’s; Millennium Wellness Group; Fleet Feet Sports.