See Why We Celebrate!

205 teams and over 3,500 participants raised more than $480,000!

On Sunday, June 1, our Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K brought together over 3,500 survivors and supporters to walk, run, connect as a community, and accelerate life-changing cancer research. Thank you for being part of our 32^nd annual celebration on National Cancer Survivors Day!

Thanks to our inspiring and generous fundraising teams, donors and sponsors, this year’s event raised more than $480,000 to help Lurie Cancer Center’s physicians and scientists at Northwestern Medicine translate discoveries into new treatments and better outcomes for our patients. Please consider making a donation to extend their impact.

“Our signature event is a unique opportunity to celebrate the victories, both big and small, and to look toward the future with determination,” said Leonidas Platanias, MD, PhD, Director of the Lurie Cancer Center. “It is also a call to action. While we are making great strides, our focus on lifesaving research and innovative cancer care never wavers.”

From start to finish, the morning was filled with music, entertainment, a picnic, activities for the family, and inspiring survivors like WGN-TV reporter and colon cancer survivor, Mike Lowe, who shared his story on National Cancer Survivors Day. “When you walk this path together, it’s so much easier than when you’re walking it alone,” Lowe said. “To be with all of these great people here today — not only in the purple shirts, but the gray shirts as well. Those are the family members, friends and supporters who have helped us along the path.”

• View photos from this year’s event on Flickr.
• Congratulations 5K runners! You can view the race results here.
• Please take our post-event survey. Your feedback will help make our 33rd annual celebration even better!
  

Thank You for Making a Difference!

Research saves lives. Thank you to our donors, fundraising teams and sponsors for leading the charge. If you weren’t able to join us at the event, you can still donate online until August 31 to support our mission.

Top Individual Fundraisers 

• Nadia Ali

• Alan Rubin

• Tim Cavanagh

• Christine Sullivan

• Chris Cramer

Top Teams

• Team TimCav

• Lurie Cancer Center All Stars

• AbbVie

• AYA Cancer & Board 39

• WeRxCellent!!!

Thank you to Our Sponsors!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous sponsors of our 32^nd Annual Cancer Survivors Celebration Walk & 5K! With your support, we can offer more hope to more people.

AstraZeneca
Bristol Myers Squibb
Canteen
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Scott & Sara Fisher Family
Servier Pharmaceuticals
Cimaglio Family Foundation
New Faith Baptist Church International
Kenneth Pasterczyk
Chicago White Sox
Mudd Law
Walgreens

Join us in making a difference! To explore corporate sponsorship opportunities for next year’s event, contact survivorswalk@nm.org.

It Takes Teamwork

Huge thanks to all the people whose contributions made our 31^st annual celebration possible, including:

• Our Amazing Volunteers & Staff – we couldn’t do it without you!
• WGN-TV Reporter Mike Lowe for sharing his perspective
• The 2025 “Faces of Cancer” honorees
• Lakeshore Athletic Services
• Lou Loiben, Personalities, Inc. / Emcee extraordinaire
• Dr. Bombay / Chicago cover band kept us dancing
• Abel Arciniega, Tequila Graphics / Photographer
• Northwestern’s Department of Dermatology / Skin cancer screening
• Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir)
• Leana Mosesian, DPT / Shirley Ryan AbilityLab / Warm up
• The Original Rainbow Cone
• Willie the Wildcat / Northwestern University

Meet the Artists

For the past three years, we have honored survivors and celebrated together wearing custom T-shirts designed by Valerie Jonkoff and Robi Bare. Valerie, who was one of our “Faces of Cancer” in 2023, combined her creative talents and perspective as a young adult cancer survivor to capture the spirit of our Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K!

See Why We Celebrate Progress: Meet Trupti

Diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer, Trupti Patel had two options: “a clinical trial or nothing.” She explains her lifesaving decision to join a clinical trial at Lurie Cancer Center -- and the feeling of hearing she has no evidence of disease.

It was an honor to celebrate with Trupti as one of our “Faces of Cancer” in 2024!

Watch Trupti’s Story: Treating the Untreatable  

We are already looking forward to celebrating with you June 7, 2026 at our 33rd Annual Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K!