Saturday's 5K Walk & Run At Oriole Park Aims To Raise Money For Lung Cancer Research
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- A history-making event takes place at Camden Yards on Saturday. But this one doesn't have anything to do with baseball. It's all about saving lives.
Kai Jackson has the story.
Monica Barlow and Cindy Malloy recently became acquainted because of lung cancer.
"I lost my mom in 2007 to lung cancer," Malloy said.
"I had a tumor in my left lung,"Barlow said.
After Malloy's mom died she started Breathe Deep Baltimore, a walk and run that is part of LUNGevity, a foundation devoted to the research and eradication of lung cancer.
On Saturday, they'll run and walk at Oriole Park to raise money.
"The night we knew it was her last night, I held her hand until she took her last breath," Malloy said. "And it's something I would never ever want anybody else to go through. And that's what I did-- I vowed to make a difference so that other people did not have to go through what we did."
Barlow is the director of public relations with the Baltimore Orioles. In 2009, the non-smoker was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 32.
"It was extraordinarily shocking for me and my family," she said.
There's something different about this year's Breathe Deep Baltimore 5K Walk and Run. This is the first time in the history of Camden Yards that the Orioles have allowed something other than baseball inside the ballpark.
Barlow says faith and family helped her persevere through the devastating diagnosis. Cutting-edge medicine is keeping her alive and Breathe Deep Baltimore has given her a purpose.
"This is something I'm probably going to deal with for the rest of my life," she said. "So realistically, I feel it is very important to promote lung cancer research. Not only for me but for all those other people who are effected by this disease."
About 600 to 700 people are expected at the run and walk that starts at 9 a.m. Barlow says her cancer is under control and she's very thankful to her husband and the Orioles for their continued support.
For more information about the Breathe Deep Baltimore run and walk, click here.
