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Inaugural Light The Way 5K To Benefit Cancer Patients

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Battling cancer can be exhausting, not only physically and emotionally, but also financially.

For many, the medical bills add up fast and become overwhelming.

However, there's a new event in Pittsburgh designed to help those struggling.

Larry Werner passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 80 after a courageous, three-year battle.

He went through treatment after treatment, but instead of focusing on himself, he noticed other patients struggling.

"He learned from his oncologist and the care team that there were patients that weren't showing up for their treatments because they couldn't afford basic needs, such as groceries or maybe baby food or even transportation," Bern Werner said.

Larry wanted to help and he started Larry's Legacy just days before he died on June 2, 2014.

The effort is all to raise money for cancer patients having trouble making ends meet.

"We see people that are skipping lunch so they can get their prescription or vice versa and anything we can do to help them is obviously our goal," Cancer Caring Center's Rebecca Whitlinger said.

All of the funds from Larry's Legacy go directly to cancer patients, many of them turn to the Cancer Caring Center for free services.

Bern Werner said that's exactly how his father would want the money to be distributed.

"That was my father, he never complained, it was amazing. He just cared about other people and that really came, I know, from his family, his mother and father were the same way," Bern Werner said.

Donations can be made to Larry's Legacy through the Pittsburgh Foundation at any time, but there's a fun way to get involved.

The Light the Way 5K race is a nighttime run/walk on the North Shore. It kicks off at Heinz Field and wraps up on the lawn along the river.

"The kids are also going to have a contest to see who can glow the most and there will be prizes for that as well, so it will be a fun event," Werner said.

The first ever Light the Way 5K is this Friday from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. For more information, visit the event's website here.

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