WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio2nd annual Panerathon raises thousands for Valley breast cancer center

2nd annual Panerathon raises thousands for Valley breast cancer center

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - More than four thousand people laced up their shoes to support breast cancer patients in the Valley.

The second annual 10K Panerathon race and walk raised money for Humility of Mary Health Partners' first comprehensive breast care center in the region.

It's one of the region's largest fundraising events hosted by Covelli Enterprises and Panera Bread. The race began at the Covelli Center in Youngstown.

"They're (the runners) going to raise, I think, 180-thousand dollars for the center, and thank God for this community. It's unbelievable the support they've given to an event like this and we're just glad our company could be part of this," said Sam Covelli from Covelli Enterprises.

The Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center is a dream of Dr. Rashid Abdu who lost his wife Joanie to breast cancer 17 years ago. The center is scheduled to open this fall.