Strides for Stripes: Yes We CCAN

Patients, survivors, friends, families and supporters banded together at on Saturday for the second Annual Strides for Stripes Zebra Walk. The walk was sponsored by the Carcinoid Cancer Awareness Network (CCAN) to raise awareness of the fight against Neuroendocrine (NET) Carcinoid cancer.

The walk was organized by Maryann Wahmann, CCAN vice president, who said the event turnout had nearly doubled from last year's walk. In addition, she said there was more outreach this year, with participation from the , Bellmore-Merrick EMS crews and the Islanders.

The zebra was chosen as the mascot of CCAN because of the relative rarity of Carcinoid and NET cancer. Walkers were given "Strides for Stripes" t-shirts with zebra stripes; however most volunteers and other participants brought their own black and white stripes.

Wahmann estimated that prior to Saturday's event, the 5K walk had raised about $30,000.

Wahmann and her husband, Robert, started the foundation in 2004, after she was diagnosed in 2001. In addition to organizing the Strides for Stripes 5K Walk, Wahmann and her husband also run a website and a support line that runs seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Additionally, they work closely with doctors and have been a part of 20 different conferences.

Additionally, Maryann Wahmann's work with CCAN has been nationally recognized. She is the recipient of the 2010 Warner Advocacy Award, which she will receive at CCAN's 7th Annual Celebration of Life Gala on Nov. 13.

Patients and survivors are thankful for the work that Wahmann and her husband do, locally and afar. For Josh Hardin, who traveled from Philadelphia to run in the event, CCAN was the only information he could find on the web when he was diagnosed in February.

"It taught us a lot about the disease," said Hardin. "This walk was a thing we could be a part of, and a lot of our friends could support us too. There's not a lot of information. This is an opportunity for us to give back and further the research for such a rare disease."

Hardin came to the race with the support of his wife and two children, and nearly 20 co-workers, coming from places like Michigan, Virginia Beach and Connecticut.

"We've been coordinating the trip for eight or nine months," Hardin said. "When I was first diagnosed they didn't know if I'd even make it a year, so nine months later, to be running this walk, instead of walking it… it's amazing."

Carcinoid cancer is part of a group of tumors called Neuroendocrine (NET) tumors that grow in the hormone-producing cells. The cancer is considered one of the rarest and, because of that, lacks medical research as well as public awareness. In fact, nearly 90 percent of all Carcinoid and NET cancer patients are misdiagnosed and mistreated, according to CCAN.

Nearly all patients and survivors at the walk said they were misdiagnosed initially, or said that their cancer was discovered accidentally.

"We found it by mistake," said Jeannie Carroll of Levittown, talking about her husband's Carcinoid cancer. "We never would have known."

Brian Carroll has been battling the cancer for about a year and a half. It was found after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the Carcinoid tumor was found in his small intestine during a CAT scan.

Since his diagnosis last year, Brian Carroll has been receiving treatment and the tumors are "melting away" according to Carroll.

"It's important to see the members of our community that are battling this cancer," Carroll said. "It's bringing awareness to people that this cancer is out here, and the information needs to be shared."

Bracelets, pins, t-shirts and informational packets and brochures were available at the Strides for Stripes walk.