Run Honoring Dr. Marnie Rose Celebrates Ninth Anniversary

MD Anderson News Release March 29, 2011

Annual event raises important funds for brain cancer research

MD Anderson News Release 03/29/11

Supporters from across the city will lace up their sneakers and take to the streets for the ninth annual Run for the Rose, building on last year's record-setting fundraiser.

To be held at Reliant Park on Sunday, April 10, at 8 a.m., the run will benefit brain cancer research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as pediatric initiatives at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Last year's event raised $430,000, bringing the total funds generated for the two institutions to more than $2 million.

"We are continuing our momentum and hope to raise $440,000 this year. It's amazing to stop and think what we've accomplished in memory of Marnie over the past nine years," said Lanie Rose, Marnie's mother. "We are grateful to the community for continuing to embrace this run."

Funds from this year's run will support MD Anderson's immunotherapy research, new drug development and clinical trials for patients with brain cancer, as well as pediatric brain cancer research at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

"Marnie would have been so proud of the event's overwhelming success, the difference it's made in the medical community and the tradition it's become in Houston. The event continues Marnie's legacy and makes a difference in two causes that touched her life personally - cancer and children," she continued.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 22,000 new cases of brain cancer were diagnosed in 2010 in the U.S. and more than 13,000 people died from their disease.

Rose was 27 years old and in the first year of her pediatric medical residency when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Despite her diagnosis, she agreed to share all - her cancer journey, personal life and professional duties as a medical resident - with a TV crew from the ABC reality series "Houston Medical" in 2002.

Rose died on Aug. 23, 2002, from complications due to her cancer, just five weeks after the show's final episode aired.

"Brain cancer robbed our daughter of her career, her mobility and then her life, but it never diminished her sense of humor, her spirit or her will to survive," says Lanie. "We, in turn, will never stop searching for a cure."

Run for the Rose is a certified 5K race/walk; other race-day activities include a 1K family run/walk and a post-race party on the floor of Reliant Center for all participants. For interested runners, the 5K run will be chip-timed.

Awards will be given to male and female 5K participants who finish first, as well as the top three male and female finishers in specific-age categories. To be eligible for an award, participants must be chip-timed and registered for the competitive 5K Run. All children completing the 1K will receive medals.

Registration for Run for the Rose is $30 per adult for the competitive run, $25 per adult for the noncompetitive run and walk, $15 for children ages 12 and under for the competitive run, and $12 for children ages 12 and under for the noncompetitive run and walk.

Entry forms for both events are available by calling race headquarters at (713) 993-9288 and by logging on to www.runfortherose.com. Runners and walkers will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

For more information about brain tumor research at MD Anderson, log on to www.mdanderson.org/diseases/braincancer. To learn more about the work of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, visit www.memorialhermann.org/locations/CH.html. 03/29/11