By Kari Johnson
What a year 2017 was! From San Francisco to South Florida, the MMRF Team for Cures 5K Walk/Run event series visited 13 markets last year. We were inspired by the more than 13,000 walkers and runners who raised over $3.5 million in 2017! Encouraged by the success of the event series, we are grateful to have the chance to reflect on the past year and are looking forward to the extraordinary year ahead of us.
From sweltering heat to below freezing temperatures, the Event 360 team and hundreds of volunteers created an event that we are incredibly proud of. We witnessed moving speeches from the stage, adorable kids participating in the tot trot, touching moments of connection between patients, and the incredible support amongst the multiple myeloma community.
In 2017, we added a few new elements to the event series. In addition to adding two new markets, we worked with MMRF on expanding their social media presence, added a new teams tent, and created a memorial garden. Perhaps one of the biggest accomplishments was seeing the Los Angeles event nearly double in size and money raised for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Along the way this year, we learned a few lessons, improved efficiency, and continued to strengthen the partnership we have with MMRF. And with the first event in 2018 quickly approaching in March, we are busy making improvements to the participant experience, securing sites and courses, and looking for ways to continue to improve the work we do.
Take a moment to check out the MMRF Team for Cures 5K Walk/Run website to see if we are coming to a city near you. We would love to see you out there!
Kari Johnson is the Event Production Manager for the MMRF Team for Cures 5K Walk/Run event series. Her 16+ year career in events has given her the opportunity to work with some of the best organizations and companies around, travel extensively, and continue to learn something new every day. When she’s not working, you can usually find her planning her next trip to see a Broadway show, in the office supply aisle, or napping.
