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Race raises funds for sarcoma research

By Brittany Whitley Staff Writer
Published: February 08, 2010

About 75 people braved the cold Sunday morning for the Dash for Deb 5K Run/Walk, the Debi LeGette Memorial Race at Auburn University.
The event was a fundraiser for the Sarcoma Foundation of America in honor of Debi LeGette, mother of Auburn University student Taylor LeGette. Debi succumbed to sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in August.
About 85 cents of every dollar raised went to the Sarcoma Foundation of America to help find a cure for the cancer that appears in the body’s collective tissues, or in the nerves, muscles, joints and bone. Commonly, the tumors are found in limbs, where the majority of a person’s body collective tissue lies, according to information from the foundation. About half of all sarcoma cases are totally resistant to any medical approach.
“It’s very rare,” said Norine Spencer, a representative from the SFA who was at the race.
Sunday was the first Dash for Deb, but both Spencer and Taylor LeGette hope to make it a tradition.
“My mother passed away on Aug. 24 of sarcoma,” said LeGette, who organized the event. “In October, my family and I did a run for sarcoma, I guess that’s what inspired me to do it.”
In addition to the race in Auburn, races were held in Oregon and Florida. Friends and family in those states organized the two additional events, LeGette said.
LeGette said she organized the race in part to honor her mother, but she also wants to raise fund to help find a cure.
“Not counting today (the funds raised through the race), we’ve raised $4,000,” she said.
The entry fee for the race was $20.
To donate to the SRA, visit www.curesarcoma.org.