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Alex’s Duck Duck Run Returns Hopeful of Setting New Records for Research

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When you piece together the legacy of a local family who lost a courageous young son to childhood cancer with an extremely generous presenting sponsor and then mix in hundreds of runners from tiny tots to full grown men wearing neon colors, you set the scene for another truly memorable edition of Alex’s Duck Duck Run returning to the St. Joseph waterfront soon.

The 5th Annual Alex’s Duck Duck Run will take place on Saturday, June 17 at Margaret Upton Arboretum. This is The Alex Mandarino Foundation’s biggest fundraiser with 100-percent of the proceeds going to childhood cancer research. Last year they raised $50,000 and had over 1,200 race participants. Needless to say, they are hopeful that they will break both of those record-setting numbers at this year’s race.

The event, dedicated to the memory of tiny, but feisty Alex Mandarino, kicks off with the 1K Kids’ Fun Run at 9:20am with the 5K Run/Walk following at 10am. Kids participating in the Fun Run get a medal and can enjoy complimentary activities such as Funny Face Face Painting by Jenni Bush, Squiggles & Smaxy the Clowns’ balloon twisting, Fire & Ice ice cream, carnival games & prizes, inflatable slides and music by Vinny Gallagher.  This is truly a family friendly event and something kids will talk about for the rest of their summer.

The 5K course has glorious views of the St. Joseph River waterfront, Silver Beach, Lions Park Beach, the Howard Recreational Trail and the Whirlpool Compass Rose Fountain. Runners and walkers will be chip timed and medals will be given to the top 2 winners in each age group.

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Pre-registration for this 5th edition of Alex’s Duck Duck Run was $25 for the 5K and $15 for the Fun Run, but that period has ended. Current registration is now $30 up until the day of the race. You can sign-up in person at Taylord’ Running or online by going tothealexmandarinofoundation.org.  More information is also available on their website.

The Foundation wants everyone to know that the scope and scale of this major event would not be possible without their generous presenting sponsor, United Federal Credit Union, and all of their other amazing sponsors and volunteers. If there are still options available, businesses that are interested in becoming additional sponsors can find information on that at the website listed below.

The Mandarino family and Foundation team are extremely grateful for those who continue to support The Alex Mandarino Foundation and keep Alex close to their hearts.  Alex endured a great deal for a little boy and they continue to fight for him and all the children that get the terrible cancer diagnosis.

Many people are unaware of how underfunded childhood cancer is. In the last 20 years, only three new drugs have been approved that were specifically developed to treat children with cancer. The family and foundation feel that is not enough and not fair given that there are roughly a dozen cancers that are exclusive to children.

Dr. Nai-Kong Cheung, head of the neuroblastoma program (neuroblastoma is the cancer that Alex had) for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City (a two-time Alex Mandarino Foundation fund recipient) said, “It’s not a science issue…it’s a money issue.” In four years of doing this event, the foundation has been able to donate $160,000 to fund childhood cancer research. As Alex’s dad, Tony Mandarino puts it, “It feels good to know that all the money raised at the Duck Duck Run goes to helping find a cure for kids.”

For more about the Alex Mandarino Foundation and registration forms for the race, click the link below:

http://thealexmandarinofoundation.org/?page_id=203