Make A Difference for Cervical Cancer Research By Participating in the 14th Annual Susan Zabransky Hughes Memorial 5K Run/Walk on April 26
March 26, 2024 - Saddle River, NJ - Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, part of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, is pleased to announce its 14th Annual Susan Zabransky Hughes Memorial 5K Run/Walk. The race will begin at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saddle River on Saturday, April 26.
Funds raised from the race will benefit cervical cancer research taking place at Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), an advanced research institution founded by Hackensack Meridian Health to rapidly translate innovations in science to improve human health. The CDI’s cervical cancer research program, led by Olivier Loudig, Ph.D., an associate member of the CDI, is dedicated to the development of new diagnostic technologies for early detection and improved treatment for women with cervical cancers.
The race, named in honor of Susan Zabransky Hughes, engages many members of the community from Saddle River and surrounding towns. Zabransky Hughes, who was 46 when she passed, was a beloved borough resident who died of cervical cancer in 2011.
“We are so pleased to once again hold the 14th Annual Susan Zabransky Hughes Memorial 5K Run/Walk, an important community race, in benefit of cervical cancer research this year,” said Susan Zabransky, mother of Susan Zabransky Hughes and leader of the Run for Sue Committee. “Although we miss Susan dearly, coming together year after year to honor her memory helps us keep her legacy alive and raise vital funds for a critical cause. We are so proud of the wonderful research that Dr. Loudig is conducting at the Center for Discovery and look forward to supporting it!”
The 5K is the main event planned by the all-volunteer Run for Sue Committee, which has raised money and awareness in honor of Hughes since her passing. The committee has raised more than $2.6 million in donations since 2011 in support of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. In addition to research, fundraising has underwritten cancer support projects, including a teen lounge for cancer patients at Hackensack Meridian Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, dedicated to the memory of Kyle Egan, also a Saddle River resident, who passed away from a rare bone cancer at age 17.
“We are so fortunate to once again be the beneficiary of the proceeds from this important community run,” said Olivier Loudig, Ph.D., associate member of the Center for Discovery & Innovation. “The philanthropic support we receive is not just a tribute to Susan’s legacy, but a vital investment in cervical cancer research – critical work that is changing lives and shaping the future of care. Funding research is critical to developing better treatments, advancing early detection and, ultimately, improving outcomes for patients. This generosity enables us to make significant strides in laying the groundwork for non-invasive screening of cervical cancer, and to push the boundaries of what is possible. It allows us to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.”
Proceeds from last year’s race were used to pay for research analysis using artificial intelligence, which allowed for the evaluation of nanoparticles released by cervical cancer cells in the blood, which are too small for the eye of a trained scientist or any existing software to analyze.
About 13,360 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2025 and about 4,320 women will pass from the disease, according to estimates from The American Cancer Society.
Funds raised will contribute to Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation’s Be The Difference campaign. Launched in September 2024, the Be The Difference campaign is a transformational effort focusing on four key pillars: enhancing the delivery of patient care, accelerating groundbreaking research and discovery, expanding equitable access to advanced care and revolutionizing medical education while supporting the nursing profession. Through this ambitious campaign, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation aims to reshape health care for patients, clinicians and the diverse communities it serves, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future.
Those interested in participating in the Susan Zabransky Hughes 5K Run/Walk can register as an individual, or create a team. To register or purchase a sponsorship, visit GiveHMH.org/Zabransky5K. To learn more, contact strategicevents@hmhn.org.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION
Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3), is the philanthropic division of Hackensack Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. The foundation oversees fundraising for the network’s three academic medical centers, two children’s hospitals and seven community-based medical center foundations, as well as key initiatives, programs and services offered by Hackensack Meridian Health, including nursing support, behavioral health, children’s health, Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery & Innovation and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation has been designated as both a High Performer Overall and Healthcare System High Performer by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) within their 2024 Report on Giving.
In September 2024, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation publicly launched its Be The Difference campaign, a one billion dollar fundraising initiative built upon four pillars, each designed to support Hackensack Meridian Health’s vision for New Jersey, including better delivery of patient care; revolutionizing medical education and supporting the nursing profession; accelerating research and discovery; and ensuring more equitable access to advanced care. To learn more about the campaign, visit HMHBeTheDifference.org.
To make a gift in support of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, visit GiveHMH.org/Donate.
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