Lace those running shoes and come out for the third annual LIVERight, a 5k run/ walk to raise awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer.
Hosted by the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and Answer to Cancer, the event will take place on May 10 at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the 5k, or 3.2 mile, race will start at 9 a.m. The first 500 people to register for the event will receive a free LIVERight T-shirt.
There will be an honor board at the start of the race, where people running in memory of someone who has passed away from liver cancer or for the sake of a relative or friend with hepatitis B can write about the reason they are participating in the run.
California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who is infected with hepatitis B, will kick off the event, which will feature performances from Stanford Hwimori, Stanford Wushu, Stanford Swingtime, Stanford Lambdas and U.C. Berkeley’s The Movement.
“LIVERight will be a great opportunity for the community to unite against hepatitis B and liver cancer, while enjoying a fun-filled day with friends and family,” said Dr. Samuel So, director of the Asian Liver Center. “It’s a worthy cause and it’s a family event, so come and enjoy the games, prizes, food and various performance groups!”
Hepatitis B causes 80 percent of all primary liver cancer cases and is considered the greatest health disparity affecting the Asian/Pacific Islander demographic. As many as one in 10 Asian Americans and one in 20 of all people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B. Nearly 1 million infected individuals die every year.
Adrian Elkins inspired the Asian Liver Center to start LIVERight in 2006. Elkins contracted hepatitis B at birth in Calcutta, India, and was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. He worked tirelessly to raise money for liver cancer research and founded the first Answer to Cancer run in 2003. It is in his spirit that the center decided to host its own event.
“The run will be a good way to build community and raise awareness for hepatitis B,” said Chrissy Leung, community research coordinator at the Asian Liver Center. “I encourage everyone to come out and participate.”
For more information about LIVERight: liver.stanford.edu. To learn more about the S.F. Hep B Free campaign: sfhepbfree.org or
thuynh@awfoundation.com.