Largest 5k in Kansas City sets record for number of participants

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The largest 5k in Kansas City, Head for the Cure, celebrated its 22nd year Sunday morning with several broken records, specifically in attendance and fundraising.

More than 6,000 runners and walkers trekked through Corporate Woods in Overland Park, raising money to fight brain cancer, many of which formed teams to support or remember loved ones who had suffered or are previously suffering from the diagnosis.

Although the race honors everyone facing this disease, most of the credit goes back to one man, an avid runner who saw his diagnosis as an opportunity to help others.

The Head for Cure Foundation was established over two decades ago to celebrate the life of Chris Anthony , a 37-year-old man and lifelong resident of Kansas City, who passed away in February 2003 after suffering from a glioblastoma brain tumor.

According to the foundation, Anthony loved to run and created the 5k with his family to honor his memory and raise awareness for the disease.

Today, the race and the organization continues to make an impact with the help of generous donors and advocates. It gives people who are living with the cancer a sense of hope and encouragement. Specifically, people like Amy Roberts.

Roberts was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma 16 years ago.  It’s one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer and no one expected her to survive this long.

According to doctors, Roberts is a one-percenter, and according to her family, she’s a miracle.

“Sixteen years ago, she was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma,” Chris Roberts, Amy’s husband said. “To God’s prayers and her faith, she is still here which is an absolute miracle, as we all know, with glioblastoma.”

“She’s had a journey with brain cancer, thyroid, strokes, obviously seizures,” he said. “They’re calling her the ‘one-percenter’ down at KU. She is beating all odds.”

Roberts has become a symbol of hope not just for those who are fighting the disease, but those who have the privilege of witnessing her strength and determination.

“I think it’s amazing. Somebody that I always look up to, she’s an angel for sure,” Emma Ross, one of Roberts’s daughters, said. “We could never live life without her. She makes every day, and we’re glad that she’s here.”

At Sunday morning’s event, Roberts was given the “Keeping the Faith” award after her “Amy’s Angels” team—a group of 170 supporters—raised over $20,000 for brain cancer research this year.

Now, with the help of generous teams like Amy’s Angels, Head for the Cure is on target to raise more than $3 million this year, which is quite the difference from 22 years ago when the first event garnered only 300 participants (mostly family and friends of Anthony) and raised a few thousand dollars.

Head for the Cure has several other 5k races planned all around the country, including cities in Texas, Michigan and New York.

For more information, go here to participate. If you are interested in donating, click here .

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