Registration Underway Now For Fourth Annual Jalen & Breanna Thayer Memorial Run/Walk On June 7; Grassroots, Emotion-Packed Event Promotes Childhood Cancer Awareness

(June 2, 2014, 9:40 a.m.) -- Registration is underway now (including a link below) for the 4th Annual Jalen & Breanna Thayer Memorial Run/Walk for Childhood Cancer Awareness on June 7th. The heartfelt, grassroots organized event begins at 8:00 a.m. this coming Saturday and extends to about noon at Patrick Henry School, 3720 Canehill Ave. in East Long Beach.

The race began in June 2011 to honor Jalen and Breanna Thayer, a brother and sister both diagnosed with different types of brain cancer. Breanna was diagnosed in 2004 and passed away on July 25, 2005 after a 16 month battle. Jalen was diagnosed in 2009 and passed away on April 6th, 2011 after fighting for 22 months. The family lived in East Long Beach.

Breanna, Samuel, Bailey, Jalen, Mom & Dad at La Jolla Beach in 2003

Jalen, Breanna and their Mom in 2004

The Thayers and their friends and supporters organized the first race just eight weeks after Jalen passed away...and have continued to organize events each year to raise awareness of childhood cancer and honor other children who have lost their battles with cancer.

This year, there'll be a 5K competitive race, 5K fun run/walk, 1 mile run/walk, 1K kids race, 1K Senior stroll and a Toddler Trot.

Those who can't attend in person but want to participate as a "virtual runner" can register and run or walk anywhere on their own and then submit photos and their time for inclusion in the results after completing their run/walk.

You can register right now with a mouse click.

To sign up, click here.

Jalen Thayer was an athlete and a scholar...and learned he had brain cancer at age 13. Despite what Jalen saw his little sister Breanna go through, he continued attending school and completed middle school with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He played saxophone in the band and competed in sports that had always been a part of his life.

On March 31, 2011, just days before his passing, Jalen was present at Newcomb Academy K-8 school as the entire student body, faculty and staff assembled to name its athletic field in his honor (LBREPORT.com coverage, click here).

A candlelight vigil is planned at Patrick Henry School (3720 Canehill in ELB) on Friday night, June 6 at 8:00 p.m. The runs/walks take place on Saturday June 7 between 8 a.m. and noon.

We invite our readers to take join in these events by registering now (click image below) and passing this story along to Facebook and other friends.

4th Annual Jalen and Breanna Thayer Memorial Run-Walk for Childhood Cancer Awareness.
June 7, 2013, begins at 8 a.m.
Patrick Henry School, 3720 Canehill Ave. in Long Beach
To sign up, click here.