The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Saturday, June 5th, saw our community come together in a single mission… to support those touched by cancer.
Jan Frandsen, Nurse Practitioner at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, along with some very special friends ran PLACE2PLACE in support of The Gathering Place.
The mission: A marathon from The Gathering Place in Beachwood to The Gathering Place West in Westlake.
Beginning at 8 a.m., and team runners took to the streets and made their first stop at UH Seidman Cancer Center where they were greeted by UH staffers and TGP’s CEO, Michele Seyranian. After a quick bathroom break and some hydration the crew set off for Edgewater Park.
Jan and friends celebrate his run!
At about 12:20 p.m., Jan and his crew arrived at Edgewater and were greeted by smiling faces and bright colors as Cleveland came out to celebrate Pride at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland parade! After a quick break, their feet hit the pavement again and they were headed to Rocky River.
Waiting with bagels and ice cold water/Gatorade, Tiffani McManamon, TGP West Side Committee Member and owner of Lovlox SALON, welcomed the runners. They were even greeted by her sweet furbaby, Ozzie. For the fourth time, all wished the runners luck and sent them off to their final stop before celebrating with them in Westlake.
Jan, Colleen and Jeannie made it to Bay Presbyterian Church for a quick water break and to pick up their final runner, Kristen. It was there that they made the turn onto Columbia Road to their final destination, The Gathering Place West (Sandy Borelli Center).
With 2.1 miles left to go, the cheering squad made their way to TGP to make sure the runners were welcomed properly. Excitement was in the air as they came around the corner into the parking lot. Cowbells, drums and cheers could be heard down Center Ridge Road.
After 8 hours, the PLACE2PLACE team had made it!
Thank you to everyone who made this run possible. Special shout to:
- University Hospitals – Chesley and Sarah…thank you, thank you, thank you!
- LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
- Lovlox SALON – Tiffani and Melissa… Your smiling faces were such a warm welcome
- Fox 8 News
- Jeannie – Congrats on completing your FIRST MARATHON with us.
- Colleen, Kristen. Lorna and all the others who came out to run… THANK YOU!
- Cathy Henry – Thank you letting us know where Jan was at along the route
- And to Jan… The Gathering Place cannot thank you enough for what you have done for our cancer community. From your work at Seidman, to your run across town, you are an INSPIRATION!
Show Jan and Team PLACE2PLACE some love in the comments on their Facebook page and by donating to the team at www.classy.org/team/343333! There’s still time and we are so close to our goal.
