Local Charity and Community Helping One Another

So was his late wife, Jennifer.

The North Ogden residents started a nonprofit agency, Just-a-Break, before Jennifer, 45, died Dec. 20, 2015. Their efforts were designed as a way to turn Jennifer?s nearly three-year fight against stage 4 colon cancer into an opportunity to serve.

Just-a-Break?will hold a community celebration, 5K color run and chalk art competition from 5 p.m. Aug. 26 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27 to raise money to give breaks and vacations to families of those struggling with terminal cancer. ?Chalk it Up North!? will be held at? Kirt’s Family Drive Inn, 1974 N. Washington Blvd.

?Knowing firsthand the financial and emotional toll cancer can take on you, we found a niche to help cancer patients? families,? Thorpe said. The nonprofit now is offering an average of more than $3,000 in donations per month to families served by local cancer-treating hospitals.

?As current and past caregivers of loved ones with advanced stage cancer we ?get it? and can appreciate how a simple get-a-way can provide a much needed emotional lift,? reads the organization?s website, justabreak.org. ?We know the reality of the financial burdens of cancer treatments, and how they can prevent even that simple night out, and we want to help.?

Registration remains open for those who wish to run in the 5K color run, compete in the chalk art contest or host a booth.

For more information, visit justabreak.org or call 888-258-6363. Cost of participating is $30 for the 5K color run, $20 for the chalk art contest and $50 for a booth, with a limit of 20 booths. Although the website states that costs for participating would increase July 27, that deadline was extended to Aug. 14.

?We hope to have this first year be a successful enough of an activity that it becomes a bigger and better annual event,? Thorpe said.

The 5K color run will feature chalk dousing of runners with different colors every kilometer.?Thorpe said the race will be professionally timed for competitive racers, but is also designed for the non-competitive.

?It?s a fun run for families,? Thorpe said. ?It?s for non-runners to get covered in chalk. For young people, it will be more about the selfies they take.?

The chalk art contest will feature individual artists creating chalk art displays on?5-foot-by-5-foot pieces of concrete in 24 hours.

Thorpe said the event has drawn an internationally known chalk artist, Tanya Youngberg, of Bountiful, who recently was commissioned for artwork for Pope Francis. Also attending for exhibition will be artist?Camille Grimshaw.

Included in the exhibitions will be an art tribute created in honor of Thorpe?s late wife.

Thorpe said there will be plenty of fun for anyone who participates, even if they don?t run or create chalk art.?The Greg Simpson Band will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 27. Other performers will add to the mood, performing each hour, he said.

Members of the dance studio?Ili O?Polynesia will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 26.

Also featured in the event will be a car show, Aug. 26, and food trucks throughout the two days.

?There will be family-friendly fun and entertainment,? Thorpe said. ?All proceeds go to a great cause.?

Just-a-Break?currently serves Ogden, Salt Lake City and St. George, but plans to expand to Logan and Provo, as well as Chicago, New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Go check out this cause and help them if you can… Copyright is Standard Examiner (all rights reserved)