Harbin Clinic to host Early Bird Cancer Walk

(Media Release) It all started with acclaimed Rome folk artist Ken "Blacktop" Gentle. He wanted to use his art to help area cancer patients. After chatting with Harbin Clinic oncologist Dr. Missy Dillmon about ideas, he created two paintings using his iconic blackbirds that appear in much of his artwork. They feature the blackbirds and lavender ribbons, which represent all forms of cancer.

Soon those images will be showcased locally to raise funds for two local nonprofits that help cancer patients. The images will be on event T-shirts and in limited-edition posters for the Early Bird Cancer Walk. The walk is being presented Saturday, November 10^{th by the Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren, MD Cancer Center. The two local nonprofits that will benefit from this are Cancer Navigators, which helps guide patients and their families through their treatment and recovery, and Summit Quest, which provides adventure therapy and mentoring for the children of cancer patients and their families.}

"We were inspired to do this because we wanted to raise money to help the organizations that help our cancer patients and their families," said Janice Hopkins, Harbin Clinic Cancer Center director.

The Early Bird Walk is a 5-mile walk along the riverfront in downtown Rome and part of the Kingfisher Trail beginning at 8 a.m. at the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center. Participants who pre-register are guaranteed to receive a Sports Tek dry-wick shirt with one of the Blacktop designs and a draw-string backpack. Cotton T-shirts with a second design will also be for sale to the public for $20 for long-sleeve and $15 for short-sleeve in the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center lobby. Child sizes are available in the cotton tees. Gift card packs with the Blacktop design are also on sale for $8.50.

Registration is $38 per person for those who sign up by November 1st. After that the registration fee is $45. Registration forms are available at the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center, Cancer Navigators and the Rome-Floyd YMCA. Forms can also be downloaded online at the www.harbinclinic.com by clicking on "Early Bird Walk" link in the upper right corner of the home page.

Registration forms and payment (checks should be made out to Cancer Center Fundraiser) can be mailed to Early Bird Walk, c/o Harbin Clinic Cancer Center, 255 West 5th Street, Rome, GA 30165. Participants may also pre-register or pick up event packets and shirts the day before the walk, November 9th, from 4-6 p.m. in the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center lobby.

"The event will also feature music and refreshments and is open to all ages," said Hopkins. "We are hoping for a huge turnout to help local cancer patients. Participants are encouraged to walk in honor or memory of someone who has battled cancer."

For more information on the Early Bird Cancer Walk, contact Janice Hopkins at 706-528-9091 or jhopkins@harbinclinic.com.