International Fund-Raiser for Pancreatic Cancer in Small Southern Illinois Town

The Sixth Annual Jeanenne Thompson Walk With the Dogs event will beheld in Nashville, IL in June. Walkers and their dogs will begin and end the 5K (3.1 mile) walk at Nashville Memorial Park the morning of Saturday, June 4th. At the same time, across the United States, participating "web walkers" will be taking their pets for walks in their own home towns. The walk is not a race or timed event.

Research Money

In 2010, the event surpassed its goal of $20,000 for pancreatic cancer treatment and research with 10 percent earmarked for the Washington County (IL) K-9 Unit.. There were a record 267 Nashville walks and 126 web walkers from the United States and Australia.

The more than $20,000 raised last year brings the total raised for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN) by the five previous annual events to more than $60,000.

Jeanenne Thompson

Organizer Christi-Thompson Meritt of Lebanon, Tennessee, is the daughter of Nashville resident and dog show exhibitor Jeanenne Thompson. Her mother, a professional handler who won Best of Bree at the Doberman National in October 2004, died of pancreatic cancer only a few months later on February 15, 2005. Many of the early participants in the annual fund-raiser, especially among the web walkers, were dog exhibiting friends of Thompson.

Entry Details

Entry fees are $20 and walkers get a T-shirt. There's a $5 shipping charge for web-walkers. Walkers in Nashville can also register the day of the event and pick up their T-shirt on the spot. Kids can accompany their parents at no cost, but there is a $10 charge for a T-shirt. Participants can register as individuals or with teams. Prizes are awarded for teams which raise the most in pledge money.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer has only a five-year three percent survival rate. By the time it is diagnosed, the disease is often far advanced. Pancreatic cancer research is among the least-funded of the cancers. Among notable victims are Patrick Swayze, Michael Landon, Luciano Pavarotti, and Dizzy Gillespie. Survivors include Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsebrg and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Information and registration information can be found online at the event's website at http://jthompsonwalkwiththedogs.com/index.html .

Nashville is located 50 miles east of St Louis along Interstate 64.