“I think the greatest thing about this event is seeing how it’s evolved,” said Danielle Covelli, a marketing manager for Covelli Enterprises, who hosts the event. “When it started, there were about 1,500 participants, and there are over 11,000 in its 10th year.”

This year, the Panerathon raised more than $525,000 for the Mercy Health Foundation and the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center.

“It’s an opportunity for our community to come together and support women,” said Ashlee Mauti, director of marketing at Covelli Enterprises and a coordinator of Panerathon. “Every dollar from the Panerathon stays here in the Mahoning Valley because of the Covelli family and our over 100 sponsors.”

The Joanie Abdu center, named for Dr. Rashid Abdu’s wife, Joanie, who lost a battle to an aggressive form of breast cancer, has performed more than 83,000 exams on site and an additional 4,000 through its mobile mammography unit since it opened its doors in 2011.

Cynthia Garcia of Youngstown, a nine-year cancer survivor who walked in the Panerathon for the eighth year, said she participates to give back to the center, where she received treatment after her insurance was canceled.

“Joanie promises if you don’t have insurance, you can still get treatment,” Garcia said.

She said the team also walks in honor of someone each year.

“Right now, we’re running for a friend of mine who is in the hospital,” Garcia said. In the past, the team has walked in her honor and in memory of her mother, who passed away from breast cancer, she said

Krissie Strob of McDonald also walked for someone important — her mother, who in June was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

Carrying her 8-month-old dachshund / Jack Russell terrier, Bella, and in the company of her two children and husband, Strob said she had to be strong for her mother.

“She was in Arizona and found a lump, so she came back here to have it checked out,” Strob said. The cancer was detected late because it was well hidden, she said.

“Early detection is so important,” she said.

Strob walked with Girard-based Aim Transportation Solutions’ team, Hakuna Ma Tatas. Team leader Tony Sparrow said he chose the name because “The Lion King” is his favorite movie and he could use the play on words for one of the most popular songs from the film.

Sparrow said the company participates in support of coworkers who are survivors and for team building.

Others, like the Girard cross country team, participate for the joy of running and some good old-fashioned practice, said team members Wilson Stamford, 14, Maddie Massuri, 15, Shianne Bigelow, 16, Brett Zeigler, 17, and Douglas Diffield, 16. Several members said they also ran for grandparents who battled cancer.

The Panerathon over the last decade has generated $3 million for cancer treatment in the Valley.

“Year after year, we continue to show the world the strength, resolve and unity of the people of the Mahoning Valley,” Sam Covelli, owner and operator of Covelli Enterprises, said.

For the 10th anniversary, the event spotlighted 10 survivors: Katie Audia, Rosalyn Castillo, Kristina Juratovic, Michelle Apple, Marie Dicesare, Cynthia DiClaudio, Susan Aye, Krissie Moore, Sherri Spivey and Goldie Tillman.

In addition to the 10K and two-mile races, the event included a children’s race.

avugrincic@tribtoday.com