BULLHEAD CITY – Windy conditions didn’t deter hundreds of participants from gathering Saturday morning at Big Bend State Park for the annual Connie Davis Walk Against Cancer, hosted by the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce.
This year marked the event’s first time at the Big Bend venue, a move that Chamber President Carrie Larson said exceeded expectations.
“The turnout is fantastic, especially with it being at a new venue,” Larson said. “We’re very pleased that Nevada State Parks invited us to the Big Bend of the Colorado River. It’s a wonderful location. There’s a full 5K course here that provides all kinds of different things that you get to walk past.”
Now in its 13th year, the walk offered participants a 3.1mile course, a continental Cinnabon breakfast, a souvenir Tshirt, lunch, and access to a wide variety of vendor booths. Proceeds benefit the River Fund’s Cancer Connection, which provides direct assistance to local cancer patients.
“The event raises funds for the River Fund,” Larson said. “They have the Cancer Connection, and they support our ‘cancer warriors’ in the community in their various needs.”
Walkers included cancer survivors, families, friends, and community supporters. Among the largest groups on the course was the Wong family, who turned out 20 to 25 strong. Family spokesperson Susan Wong said the group didn’t need much formal training to take on the 5K.
“Well, I’m in fitness for a living. I teach fitness classes,” she said. “Everyone else is like, we’re just active. We walk and we’ll make it down the trail some way.”
The family dedicated their walk to one of their matriarchs.
“We are doing this walk mostly for my grandma, right here. This is my Grandma Lottie,” Wong said. “We walk in honor of her and anyone who’s been impacted by cancer today. We encourage everyone to walk for the cause. Bring your family, bring your friends, make a difference.”
Throughout the morning, steady streams of walkers made their way across the finish line — many smiling, many emotional, and all pushing through the persistent winds that swept across the park.
Whether or not the gusts helped produce faster times, the spirit of the event remained unchanged: a community walking together in support of those fighting cancer.
