On Sunday, June 4th, KJK employees, families, and friends joined over 3,500 people at the 2017 Race for the Place to celebrate cancer survivorship and benefit The Gathering Place.
The Gathering Place is a nonprofit, community-based cancer support center offering programs and services to address the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of individuals with cancer and their support network. The Gathering Place serves both east and west side communities in Greater Cleveland and to date has served more than 37,000 individuals who have made over 290,000 visits.
For several years, KJK has been dedicated to supporting The Gathering Place by sponsoring a team for the Race for the Place. This year, KJK held a contest to honor the participant who raised the most money from sponsors. The award went to KJK’s Receptionist, Kori White who writes of her experience:
“I would have to say that my experience walking in Race for the Place was one to remember. Losing my grandmother and grandfather to cancer has always made the disease something I think about often. But it’s always in a negative, fearful way since cancer runs in my family. That all stopped the moment I saw that Justine Konicki, a KJK Associate, donated $250 in my name. My first thought was, “Why me?” Finding out that she lost her mother to cancer and normally walks every year, but couldn’t due to previous engagements, made me feel like I had someone to be there for. I felt like I wasn’t just representing Justine, I was representing her mother as well. I was honored, and that right there automatically put positive thoughts in my mind and a smile in my heart. As my mother is disabled and rarely has a chance to get out, this walk gave her a chance to get some fresh air. To see her out there walking and cheering the runners on really made me so proud of her. She was so thankful I invited her but I was more thankful that she came. I had so much fun and felt so blessed to be with my family, walking for others and their families.”