The 14th annual Ron’s Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby event will raise funds to fight pancreatic cancer.

Submitted

It’s time to don your derby day attire for the 14th annual Ron’s Run for the Roses! The Kentucky Derby Day gala and fundraiser is the signature event of the Ron Foley Foundation, a West Hartford-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer.

This year’s fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 2:30-7:30 p.m. at a new location – the beautiful Farmington Polo Club. Attendees will enjoy an elegant afternoon of Southern fare, cocktails, live music from the Galvanized Jazz Band, a chance to bid on fantastic live and silent auction items, and a live viewing of the Kentucky Derby on a big screen.

The Foundation is thrilled to welcome Renee DiNino, on-air Personality at The River 105.9 and Director of Community Affairs and Programming at iHeartMedia in Hartford and New Haven, as the Master of Ceremonies. Also in attendance will be Steve Dunham and his team from New Country Mercedes-Benz, Presenting Sponsor of the event, and this year’s Honorary Chairs, Mary Froeb, pancreatic cancer survivor and Foundation volunteer, and her son, Kevin Froeb, Foundation Board Member and Executive Director at CVS Health, Office of the CEO.

“We are excited to be celebrating our 14th year of this incredible event that not only raises funds for pancreatic cancer research and awareness, but also raises funds that will go directly to patients who are battling the disease,” said Barbara Foley, President and Founder of the Ron Foley Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to all our supporters who have helped us raise more than 3.5 million dollars since we began this event in 2009.”

The Foundation was started by Barbara Foley to honor the memory of her husband, Ron, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in 2005. Ron was a respected business leader who had just retired from The Travelers Insurance Company. His loved ones were determined to make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer. The Ron Foley Foundation, Inc. was granted 501(c)(3) status in 2010. Its mission is to promote early detection through awareness and education and to raise funds for medical research and direct patient aid.

Pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 64,050 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023, and about 50,550 will die from this awful disease. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers, with only 12% surviving more than five years.

To purchase tickets to Ron’s Run for the Roses or to donate to the Foundation, please visit their website, www.ronsrun.org.

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