Several runners and walkers came out for the first Roger Berger Memorial 5K, April 12 at the Barton Lake Trails.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, organizers said.
Barb Thoren, Great Bend, notes that the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is 6 out of 100 people. According to the Network (www.pancan.org) an estimated 73 percent of patients will die in the first year of diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, and is anticipated to become the second by 2020.
“If you would like to still donate, you can make checks out to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and send them in care of Barb Thoren, 5918 16 Street Terrace, Great Bend, KS 67530,” she said. “We are planning on making this an annual event. We can’t wait until next year!”
Roger Berger lived in Ellinwood before he passed away of pancreatic cancer on Feb. 23, 2013. He was 53 years old. The Roger Berger Memorial 5K was organized by his friends and family who wanted to honor him.  
“The only way we can find a cure is to make people aware and raise money for research,” Thoren said.
Winners of the 5K are:
Men 9 & under - 1st Skyler McMullen; Women 20-29 - 1st Robin Linsner, 2nd Shannon Brown; Men 20-19 - 1st Brandon Nuss and 1st over all, 2nd Eric Thoren; Women 30-39 - 1st Patty Gonzalez, 2nd Alma Renteria, 3rd Sayuri Armendariz; Men 30-39 - 1st Jeff Zook & 2nd over all; Women 40-49 - 1st Mary Feemster, 2nd Sandy McMullen, 3rd Brenda Denning; Men 40-49 - 1st Steven Beaumont, 2nd Jeff Lutt; Women 50-59 - 1st Rhonda VonFeldt, 2nd Tobi Strickland, 3rd Teresa Cass; Women 60 & up - 1st Ginger Herrman.