Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s 16th Annual Steeplechase Distance Run Raises over $92,000 to Benefit Steeplechase Cancer Center

The 16th annual Steeplechase Distance Run, held on Sunday, Sept. 29 at Amsterdam School in Hillsborough and as a virtual event, raised more than $92,000 to support the Steeplechase Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

Organized by Somerset Health Care Foundation and founded by breast surgeon, Dr. Cynthia Lee, the event was supported by Course and Kids Sprints Sponsor, The Peer Group for Plastic Surgery and Platinum Sponsor, Gilead Oncology.

Despite the rainy weather, more than 700 community members, including runners, walkers, cancer survivors, physicians, family and friends, participated in the USATF-certified 10K and 5K runs, 2-mile walk and Kids' Sprints. For the first time this year, the event invited participants to "Do the Double," competing in both the 5K and 10K races back-to-back. Many celebrated the Oktoberfest theme in festive costumes.

Proceeds from the event benefit educational and support programs and a patient assistance fund at the Steeplechase Cancer Center. The patient assistance fund is used for cancer patients' supportive needs, including financial assistance for wigs and prostheses offered at the cancer center's Sanofi US Wellness Boutique; groceries; medications; house cleaning services and other living expenses.

"Thank you to our community members, donors and volunteers who helped make our 16^th annual Steeplechase Distance Run such a success," said Deirdre Blaus, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. "We know that cancer impacts so many lives, and each year we set aside this race day to raise money in honor of those who have battled the disease, those who continue fighting and those we remember for their courage. We are so thankful for your support."

Following the completion of the races, medals were awarded to the top finishers in each age category. Congratulations to our top finishers:

Top 5K MALE Finishers

• Sam Fowler of Hopewell with a time of 17:15
• Luke MacKinnon of Flemington with a time of 17:41
• Oliver Schmidt of Belle Mead with a time of 18:15

Top 5K FEMALE Finishers

• Courtney Skikus of Hillsborough with a time of 20:29
• Mineli Gunawardena of Hillsborough with a time of 22:17
• Christine Witt of Rocky Hill with a time of 23:06

Top 5K NONBINARY Finishers

• Jesse Johns of Piscataway with a time of 25:53

Top 10K MALE Finishers

• Sam Fowler of Hopewell with a time of 34:47
• Matthew Black of Princeton with a time of 36:46
• Frank Novak of Wayne with a time of 37:20

Top 10K FEMALE Finishers and top 3 USATF Master Women's Finishers

• Maria Mahoney of Randolph with a time of 38:32
• Suzanne La Burt of Greenwood Lake, NY with a time of 39:56
• Karen dos Santos of Belvidere with a time of 40:39

Top MALE Combo Finishers

• Sam Fowler of Hopewell with a time of 52:02
• Joshua Peterson of Hillsborough with a time of 57:03
• William Semon of Phillipsburg with a time of 1:02:39

Top FEMALE Combo Finishers

• Kristen Doty of Flemington with a time of 1:21:55
• Nancy Bill of Flemington with a time of 1:30:32
• Stephanie Haggerty of Basking Ridge with a time of 1:33:29

Every runner/walker was provided a commemorative glass as a token of the hospital's appreciation for their support. To view the full results of the races, please visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/65187#resultSetId-492580;perpage:100

Together with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state's only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Steeplechase Cancer Center provides the latest cancer treatment options close to home. The three-story, 63,000-square-foot facility, which opened in 2007, houses radiation therapy services, a PET/CT, infusion therapy, breast imaging services, the hospital's research team, oncologists' and surgeons' offices, nutritional counseling, a lung cancer screening program, genetic testing services, patient navigator services, the Sanofi US Wellness Boutique and complementary medicine services, such as yoga, meditation and wellness classes.

For more information our cancer services, visit www.rwjbh.org/cancer.