An annual event raising awareness for colorectal cancer takes place this weekend in Cape Coral.

Partners in Care will host the 12th annual Scope for Hope 5K Run, 2-Mile Walk and Kid’s Fun Run at 8 a.m. this Saturday at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral. Funds raised will benefit the nonprofit Partners in Care Foundation and will be used for colorectal cancer education, screening and treatment in Southwest Florida.

“Our excitement comes in seeing so many of the same supporters come back out, and in gaining new ones each year,” said Kathy Tolentino, foundation director with Partners in Care. “But the fact that we get to speak the patients, and see what our event is doing in our community, it’s great.”

Partners in Care help those that can’t afford a colonoscopy get the screening they need to monitor their health. The organization works closely with an individual’s primary care doctor and has connections with local facilities to help get reduced rates.

“We help take care of that for them,” Tolentino said. “And we keep in touch with them and see how they’re doing.”

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Partners in Care officials said colorectal cancer can be preventable, treatable and beatable.

“And it’s one of the most diagnosed cancers, in both men and women,” Tolentino said.

Registration is open and will be accepting up until the event starts. Entry fee is $30 for adults and $20 for youth 17 years of age and under. Children under 5 years of age are free.

The overall top male and female will receive an award. The first three male and female finishers in the 5K timed run in each age category will receive a lanyard pin. All Kids’ Fun Run participants will receive a ribbon. Strollers and pets are allowed only in the 2-mile walk.

“We’ve really tried to turn this into a complete community affair,” Tolentino said. “It’s such a pretty location along the river as well.”

Partners in Care a not-for-profit charitable foundation dedicated to cancer patients founded in 1996. They help to provide financial assistance, cancer screenings, support groups for patients as well as additional educational programs. Over 8,000 patients have been served since 2007 and over $900,000 has been provided in financial assistance. The goal of the foundation is to continuously expand to provide support to patients so that they can have one less thing to worry about during their fight against cancer. For more information, call 888-850-1622 or visit YourPartnersInCare.org.

Jaycee Park is at 4215 S.E. 20th Place in Cape Coral.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj

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