Among the thousands of runners taking to the streets of Manchester on August 8 for the state’s largest road race, many will be wearing special “survivor” shirts provided by the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot.

For these runners and walkers, 5 kilometers is a short distance when measured against the journey they’ve undergone to survive a cancer diagnosis. For many, the patient programs at the Solinsky Center have been an essential part of that journey. The Solinsky Center is the official Northeast Delta Dental/Elliot Corporate Road Race charity, and all participants can fundraise for its programs.

The Solinsky Center opened four years ago with the goal of providing a new model for cancer care in the community by bringing together a range of clinical and support services in a single location.

Dr. Greg Baxter, president and CEO of Elliot Health System, as well as a runner and avid participant in the Corporate Road Race, says this makes a tremendous positive impact in patients’ outcomes.

“As a physician, I can tell you it’s very effective to have all of these oncologists on the same campus. The power of proximity is immense,” Baxter says. “It benefits our patients because it creates a more organized and comprehensive approach.”

The Solinsky Center offers access to hematology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, chemotherapy and support services at a single Manchester campus. One hundred percent of donations raised by runners and walkers go toward funding programs and services at the center, including nutrition assistance, rehabilitation therapy, integrative medicine, and support programs for patients as they manage their journey with cancer.

Specialized programs include yoga and meditation, art therapy, journaling classes, game nights for cancer survivors, acupuncture and reiki, and cooking classes for specialized and healthy food options during treatment.

Programs can address the unique needs of patients in part because of the deep insight the center’s nurse navigators provide into all aspects of the patients’ lives.

A navigator is a dedicated team member who guides the patient through the whole journey from diagnosis through treatment.

Kelli Rafferty, executive director for philanthropy and community benefit programs for the Mary and John Elliot Charitable Foundation at The Elliot, explains how integrated all aspects of a patient’s life are to their treatment outcomes, and how navigators help get to those details.

“Our navigators have created these safe spaces for the patients to talk about the challenges in their life beyond their treatment,” Rafferty says.

Those challenges may include transportation challenges and even food insecurity. “Head and neck cancer patients really need protein drinks,” she says, “but for some people, those are prohibitively expensive.”

Understanding this, the center was able to apply for grants and create a food pantry guided by an oncology dietitian. “Now, if someone is under active treatment and having a hard time getting these foods — they can get them right in the Center,” she says.

Rafferty, who lost a loved one to cancer, sees the state’s largest road race as a powerful symbol for cancer survivors and for raising cancer awareness in the community.

“There’s this camaraderie and symbol of hope when you see someone in a survivor shirt,” she says. And from a corporate wellness perspective, “This is an opportunity not only to celebrate and honor those who identify as survivors but also to say, ‘Go get your screenings and talk to your doctors about your risk factors.’”

Teams and captains needed

A great part of the success of the event is the corporate participation. Each corporate team is led by a captain who handles registration, motivates fellow employees to sign up, and handles logistics such as picking up the custom race T-shirts each team receives with their own company logo printed on the back.

This year, beyond doing good in the community, the top fundraising team will also win a catered lunch delivered to its office.

A new enticement for those stepping up to captain teams this year is a special captain’s quarter zip if registered by June 14.

A race for everyone

It’s important to note that, although the course is the fastest 5K in the state, recording a sub-14-minute finish in 2003, it’s equally accessible to all who wish to participate, including walkers and families with children and strollers.

Corporate teams can be a mix of runners and walkers, and participation can help build morale and create a sense of camaraderie amongst employees across departments and physical locations, including those who many work remotely much of the time.

And of course, putting together a corporate team can’t help but to emphasize a company’s culture of wellness and raise awareness of the importance of regular cancer screenings for employees, their families and their communities, while at the same time supporting local cancer care.

To register a team, visit www.millenniumrunning.com/corporate5k.

Ready to step up and captain your company’s team?

To register your team, start here: www.millenniumrunning.com/corporate5k

This year, there are even more benefits to being captain, but time is of the essence. All team captains get a special race quarter zip if registered by June 14.

As team captain you will:

1. Need to be motivating, fun and enthusiastic to get your co-workers, friends and family to join the fight against cancer by fundraising for The Elliot Cancer Center.

2. Be the primary contact for your company.

3. Ensure that your company’s logo is properly submitted by the deadline.

4. Arrange to pick up your company’s bib numbers and T-shirts, then distribute the correct bibs and shirts to your team prior to the race.

5. Facilitate payment of entry fees for your corporate team.

CUSTOM CORPORATE BRANDED T-SHIRTS

Team members will receive a race T-shirt with their company’s logo if registered by noon on Thursday, July 18, 2024.