Stronger Together: A Day to Celebrate and Inspire
177 teams and over 2,500 participants raised more than $575,000!
On National Cancer Survivors Day, Sunday, June 7, we came together for our 33rd annual Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K—bringing thousands of survivors and supporters to Grant Park to connect, honor survivorship, and advance life-changing cancer research. Thank you for being part of this meaningful day of community and celebration!
This year, thanks to our inspiring fundraising teams, generous donors, and dedicated sponsors, we raised more than $575,000 to support the Lurie Cancer Center. These critical funds help our physicians and scientists translate discoveries into new treatments and better outcomes for patients. Please consider making a donation to extend their impact.
Leonidas Platanias, MD, PhD, director of the Lurie Cancer Center, welcomed participants and officially kicked off the event, recognizing the strength of the survivor community and the importance of continued progress in cancer research and care. "This is the main event for cancer survivors in Chicago and one of the most impactful in the country," he said. "I want to thank our donors and fundraising teams for their efforts. Supporting cancer research helps us have more survivors every year."
Under sunny skies and perfect early-summer weather, the morning came alive with music, entertainment, and activities for the whole family, along with inspiring moments that brought our community together. Participants enjoyed everything from dance games and a balloon arch photo opportunity to a skin cancer screening tent and kids’ activities, including ballon animals and airbrush tattoos. The event also featured a special performance from the Jesse White Tumbling Team and appearances from favorite local mascots, including Willie the Wildcat, Champ the Party Animal, Skates from the Chicago Wolves, and DIBS from DePaul.
The program included remarks from bile duct cancer survivor Luke Mutter, who shared his story as one of this year's "Faces of Cancer" and spoke about the importance of advancing research and supporting others facing a diagnosis. “Three years ago, two months after my wedding, I was diagnosed and told to get ready to say goodbye,” Mutter shared. “But we decided that wasn’t enough—that we hadn’t had enough time. Because of incredible research, new treatment options, and the passion and dedication of everyone at Northwestern, I am still here today.” His message reflected the spirit of the day—celebrating resilience, connection, and the power of coming together as a community.
- 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 34th annual celebration even better!
- Watch WGN's coverage of this year's event.
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.
Maximize your impact by continuing to fundraise through August 31! Now is the best time to give, as all donations will be matched up to $30,000 thanks to a generous gift from The Cimaglio Family & Friends. Tim Cimaglio is committed to supporting Lurie Cancer Center in memory of his sister, Kimberly. Join Tim and his family in raising critical funds to advance lifesaving research and treatment. Thank you, Cimaglio Family and Friends!”
Top Individual Fundraisers
- Syed Ali
- David Applegate
- Ken Pastercyzk
- Tim Cavanagh
- Sara Breyfogle
- Christine Sullivan
- Luke Mutter
- Ken Gorman
- Marrison Biel
- Wendy Cole
Top Teams
- Buck-Eyes on a Cure
- Doctor Vo
- Team TimCav
- Power Wellness
- Team Chris
- Power Construction
- Cancer Killaz
- Purple Power People
- Run or Stroll Wear Pink for Nicole
- Not Today, Cancer!
Thank you to Our Sponsors!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous sponsors of our 33rd Annual Cancer Survivors Celebration Walk & 5K! With your support, we can offer more hope to more people.
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 celebration possible, including:
- Our Amazing Volunteers & Staff – we couldn’t do it without you!
- The 2026 “Faces of Cancer” honorees
- Lakeshore Athletic Services
- Lou Loiben, Personalities, Inc. / Emcee extraordinaire
- Abel Arciniega, Tequila Graphics / Photographer
- Northwestern’s Department of Dermatology / Skin cancer screening
- Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir)
- Georgia Wiet / Gilda's Club / Warm up
- WGN-TV Reporter Jewell Hillery for covering our event
- The Original Rainbow Cone
- Willie the Wildcat / Northwestern University; Champ the Party Animal; Skates / Chicago Wolves; DIBS / DePaul University.
