Archive: Around Town

Ithaca resident Christopher LaVallee is one of 200 athletes worldwide, who was recently accepted to compete in the April, 2010 RacingThePlanet 7-day, 155-mile Australian Outback rough-country foot race. LaVallee is celebrating his acceptance to the April 25, 2010 to May 1, 2010 event with a $20,000 fundraising campaign for the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes. His father is a prostate cancer survivor.

LaVallee, The Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, and corporate sponsor ASI Renovations announced the fundraising campaign and his participation in RacingThePlanet foot race,on Friday, January 15, 2010.

The fundraising campaign will continue until at least $20,000 is raised. The purpose of the campaign is to not only raise money for the Cancer Resource Center, but also raise awareness about the many free, personalized services the Center offers to all residents, both men and women, of the seven-county area it primarily serves. The Cancer Resource Center , is a not-for-profit agency serving people with cancer and their loved ones who live throughout the Finger Lakes region.

RacingThePlanet is the Hong Kong-based organizer of a series of annual, multi-day, 250-kilometer (155 miles) rough-country foot races in different locations around the world. Competitors must carry all their own equipment and food, as they hike/race through hills, mountains, canyons, and gorges, swim rivers, scale rocky outcrops, etc.

LaVallee recently moved to Ithaca from Brooklyn, NY, to train for the foot race at the suggestion of ASI Renovations , LaVallee and ASI co-owners Herbert Dwyer and Anthony Guarneri previously served together in the United States Marine Corps. The trio decided LaVallee’s acceptance as a participant in RacingThePlanet presented an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the Cancer Resource Center because of the impact cancer has had on all three families. The fathers of all three men are cancer survivors. LaVallee and Dwyer’s fathers are both prostate cancer survivors. Guarneri’s father recently underwent a successful surgery to remove pancreatic cancer, and is now recovering from it.

Raising funds for a charity is not a requirement to participate in RacingThePlanet, but LaVallee says, "It just feels right to do this. Cancer is never easy to deal with, but for my Dad and my family it was as smooth a transition from detection to his treatment and eventual cure, as you could expect under such circumstances. Many other people aren’t as lucky. The Cancer Resource Center has been there for Herbert and Anthony when they’ve reached out for advice and assistance in their situations, and I wanted to thank the Center for helping my friends. The fundraising campaign is my way of doing that."　


Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes Executive Director Shawn Galbreath says, "We're deeply honored and grateful that Christopher has chosen us to benefit from his participation in this arduous foot race. Cancer touches us all, and whether it's a family member, a friend, a neighbor,or co-worker, it affects our lives and tears at the fabric of our community. Christopher's decision will help us ensure that　the Center provides support and services where it is most needed… right here in our own local community. We thank Christopher for thinking of us, and wish him only the best, as he takes on one of the most challenging and daunting events in the world of sports."

The public can also follow Christopher’s progress and become a fan on Facebook at Christopher LaVallee RacingThePlanet: Western Australia 2010, or via Twitter .

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