By SUSAN MENDE

CANTON - A spicy addition has been added to the 34th annual Edward I. Moses Walk/Run for Life.

To help draw more participants, a Zumbathon has been added to this Sunday’s fundraising walk.

The Zumba dance event will feature eight different instructors and runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside St. Lawrence University’s Appleton Arena. Participants are asked to make a small donation. A health fair with screenings will be going on at the same time.

“We’re hoping to widen our network of support,” said Kellie J. Hitchman, co-coordinator of this year’s Moses event. “A lot of people love the Zumba workout. What’s better than working out and knowing that your donation is going to a good cause?”

Each year since 1979, the Moses Walk/Run has raised money to support individuals and families in St. Lawrence County dealing with cancer, travel costs and related expenses. Proceeds also go to programs dedicated toward prevention, early diagnosis and detection of cancer. To date, the organization has raised $1,141,000.

Registration for the walk/run begins at 10 a.m. inside Appleton with participants beginning at 11:30 a.m. They will wind their way around Ferguson Trail behind the SLU athletic fields. Many participants form teams in honor of a loved one who passed away from cancer. They also have the choice of walking inside the arena.

Appoximately 350 people are expected and this year’s goal is $75,000. Once again, all of the money will stay within the county for education/prevention programs and to help with cancer-related expenses.

“We have a a lot of teams that come year after year. They know our focus is helping people in the area,” Ms. Hitchman said. “All of this truly is a volunteer effort. Whatever we raise goes out to the community.”

Most of the funds are distributed to other community groups that have connections with those suffering from cancer. In 2011, those included Ryan’s Wish Foundation, the Center for Cancer Care, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, Gouverneur Business Women, St. Lawrence County Cancer Services Program and St. Lawrence Health Initiative.E.J. Noble Hospital, Gouverneur; and the Richard E. Winter Cancer Treatment Center, Ogdensburg.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer