Through the American Cancer Society Charity Runner program, thousands of people have transformed their passion for participating in marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, and other endurance events into a lifesaving effort to raise funds and honor and remember the people they know who have been touched by cancer.

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the inaugural Fort-4-Fitness Festival begins September 26, as part of the Society’s Charity Runner program. Nearly 1,000 registrants have already signed up to participate, with a cap of 3,000 participants.

One of the many participants of the Fort-4-Fitness run is 37-year-old cancer survivor, Scott Chrisman. "I am a non-hodgkins lymphoma survivor. I have battled a lot of adversity over the past eight years and to me, this race is but one more mountain for me to climb," said Scott.

"The American Cancer Society is also attacking difficult goals, including preventing cancer and diminishing suffering from the disease. And, like me, they are putting in a great deal of effort to make these difficult goals possible. I am going to meet my goal of finishing this race to help them meet their goals, making the world a healthier, happier place."

The funds Scott raises will help the American Cancer Society support groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information, advocate for all people to have access to screenings and treatment, and offer free programs and services to improve the quality of life for people facing the disease.

The Health Fair starts the festival off at the Allen County Public Library from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and is open to participants and the public. A wide range of information, education, and services will be offered, including health screenings, fitness equipment and educational materials.

Freimann Square is the site of the Healthy Food Expo, which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on "race day", September 27, and is also open to participants and the public. Approximately 25 restaurateurs will offer healthy cuisine ranging from ethnic foods to traditional salads.

"We always wanted to make Fort-4-Fitness something more than just a terrific race, and we are doing exactly that with our Health Fair on the eve of the race and our Healthy Food Expo following the races," said Tim Kenesey, Fort-4-Fitness Committee Chairman.

"Northeast Indiana offers some of the best healthcare nationwide and we are pleased – with our main sponsor Parkview Healthcare and other providers – to give participants the opportunity to learn how to improve their health. Similarly, the area has some excellent and very progressive restaurants that will be offering participants samples of their culinary creations that are both tasty and healthy."

The Fort-4-Fitness Festival embodies the ACS mission to live a healthy and active lifestyle. For information on the ACS Charity Runner program, visit www.charityrunner.org. For information on Fort-4-Fitness visit www.fort-4-fitness.org.