Family plans walk for cancer research
Sandy Resnak Urbaniak of Elizabeth lost her fight with brain cancer in January 2005, but for her daughter, Karin Galish of South Fayette Township, the desire to raise money for brain cancer research continues.
Urbaniak, a registered nurse at Jefferson Hospital, was only 58 years old when she died. With almost no symptoms, Urbaniak was diagnosed with stage IV glioblastoma while she was at work the day after Mother’s Day in 2003, her daughter said.
Urbaniak underwent chemotherapy and radiation and returned to relative normalcy until the tumor reccurred about a year later. Again, she fought, but the aggressive cancer claimed her life less than a year later, Galish said.
“Mom was very healthy until the day she was diagnosed,” Galish said.
For a few years, Galish looked for a way to remember her mother in a more public forum. Two years ago, Galish participated in a Diva Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and raised more than $3,000 for the American Brain Tumor Association.
“It took awhile to find a way to honor her,” Galish said. “I wanted something our family could participate in.”
With Galish living in South Fayette and her father, Robert Urbaniak, living in Elizabeth, Galish said she selected South Park as the location to hold the first Sandy sMILES Memorial 5K and Family Fun Walk. The proceeds from the May 31 walk will benefit the ABTA.
Running is a big part of the Urbaniak family, she said, including several of her three siblings running cross-country in high school.
“My mother was not a runner, but she never missed a meet,” Galish said.
The May 31 run and walk is family-friendly and Galish encourages those participating with small children to use a stroller or wagon.
The race will begin at the Harbor/Parcell/Ethelbert pavilions on Maple Springs Drive at 9 a.m. The cost for the 5K run is $25 if registered before Saturday, and $35 after that.
The family fun walk is a half-mile along Corrigan Trail and a half-mile back. The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. and is $40 for up to six participants if signed up before Saturday.
“May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month and we hope that we are able to spread awareness about brain cancer so we can raise money to fund critical cancer research,” Galish said. “If all goes well, fingers crossed, we will do it again next year.”
There is a Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/SandysMILESMemorialPage and a website with information about the race at http://runsignup.com/Race/PA/SouthPark/SandysMILESMemorial5K.
To contact Galish, call 412-221-0303 or email karingal@comcast.net.