The Alki Beach Walk/Run 5K, which will benefit the Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation and women battling breast cancer, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27 this year and organizer's hope to raise more than $60,000.

This is the seventh walk/run benefit for Northwest Hope and Healing, said Erin Mooney, a spokesperson for the event.

This year's waterfront 3.1-mile route will take runners and walkers from the Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach Park and the historic Bathhouse, along the waterfront to Anchor Park. It is a U.S.A. Track and Field certified and sanctioned course, according to organizers, and timing services provided by Rogue Multi-Sport.

"Our prior events included a half marathon (13.1 miles) based out of Lincoln Park, but we have found the shorter distance to be more attractive to runners in the area," said Shari Sewell, the director of Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation. "The Alki Beach 5k Walk/Run is a family friendly event in a gorgeous setting along Alki Beach."

There will be prizes for first and second place winners, as well as for largest team and top fundraisers.
Meet at Alki Beach Park, 1702 Alki Ave. S.W. 

According to statistics gathered from the group organizing the event, a woman will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes, and more than 1 million women in the United States have died of the disease since 1970.

The majority of breast cancer cases occur in women with no identifiable risk factors, and based on the current life expectancy for women in the United States, one out of eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

Sewell said the foundation has raised more than $250,000 at the annual event, and the foundation hopes to raise more than $60,000 on Sept. 27.

"The funds go into our Patient Assistance Fund at the Swedish Cancer Institute, earmarked for patients in need of assistance paying for groceries, gas, daycare, utilities, such as phone and electricity, and emergency rent," said Sewell. "Our goal is to help women get through a diagnosis of breast cancer by helping pay some bills for everyday living expenses, so the focus can be on healing.”

Last year, about 1,000 people participated in the walk/run.  Mooney said the hope is to increase that number to about 1,200 to 1,500 participants for the 2009 event.

Sewell said the mission of the Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation is to help women get through the diagnosis of breast cancer.

"The funds we raise stay in the Puget Sound area and help women right here in our community," she said. "We hope by encouraging physical fitness and raising awareness of the unmet needs of breast cancer patients, we will also be encouraging early screening, resulting in early detection."

Register for the event at www.alkibeachrun.com. Registration can also be done in person at Capers, 4521 California Ave. S.W. (206-932-0371), and Super Jock N Jill, or you can print out and send in the Registration Form and Release and Waiver. It is offered here as a PDF.

Pre-registration is suggested; event day check-in time is 8 a.m., start time is 9 a.m. at the Alki Beach Bathhouse.