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Second Annual Eric Perry Memorial 5k Run/Walk Slated June 2 at Arboretum
Arcadia Weekly May 24, 2012
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-Courtesy Photo
At 7 a.m. on June 2 a fundraising walk for brain cancer research will take place at Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Eric Perry loved the Arboretum and the faimily is hoping to raise more funds and awareness after they lost Eric at the age of 78 to brain cancer.
Eric was born in 1933 in Berlin. His family escaped from Nazi Germany in 1939 and settled in Pittsburg. Eric worked in his family store and had a series of jobs up through his high school years. Eric started his working life in the space program. He experienced some very exciting times in the late 1950’s as part of the space race with Russia. He traveled the world launching rockets, and worked at Cape Canaveral on the Vanguard rocket program, which was intended to be the first launch vehicle the United States would use to place a satellite into orbit. At this time, he was married to his first wife, Julie. Eric and Julie had 2 sons, Jeff and Doug.
Eric enjoyed traveling throughout his life and continued to do so after retirement, including his final trip and lifelong goal, which was visiting Jerusalem. His retirement years were highlighted by volunteering at the Arboretum’s historical section and the City of Hope, and long walks with his wife through the Arboretum, the Huntington Library, Disneyland, and the Los Angeles Zoo. He looked forward to playing pool each week, and got great satisfaction out of working in his beautiful garden. He always looked forward to visiting with his grand kids. He fought off some setbacks from heart surgery and prostate cancer and he continued his active life style until he was diagnosed with brain cancer in April of 2010 and lost his final battle. He is survived by his wife, Chris; 3 sons, Jeff, Doug and Mark; daughter, Robin; and by his 8 grandchildren Tim, Caitlin, Courtney, Amanda, Kent, Micah, Macy and Trevor.
The 2012 Eric Perry Memorial 5k Run/Walk will take place on Saturday June 2nd, 2012 at 7:00am at the Arboretum in Arcadia. Proceeds from this charity event will benefit the American Brain Tumor Association (“ABTA”). This will be a non-profit event with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the ABTA. Interestingly, this will be one of only two brain tumor related fundraisers in Los Angeles in 2012 and the only ABTA event in all of California.
Eric Perry was a 50-year member of the Arcadia community who passed away in June 2010 after battling brain cancer, an affliction over 200,000 people are diagnosed with each year. Proceeds from this event will be used to provide critical funding to researchers working toward breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnosis, treatment and care – with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
The Arboretum was one of Eric’s favorite places to visit and, even after the disease had taken away his ability to walk, he was wheeled around the beautiful grounds in his wheelchair. The Eric Perry Memorial 5k Run/Walk is a tribute to Eric and all those who are no longer able to walk with us, so that others may continue walking with their loved ones in the future.
Last year’s inaugural event included nearly 70 participants and raised over $4000 for the ABTA. Everyone is welcome to participate in support of this year’s goal of raising $5,000 to help fund the ABTA’s activities. For more information, including event registration or to make a donation, please visit the event’s website at http://hope.abta.org/ericperryrunwalk. Sponsorship opportunities are also available – please contact Mark Perry at moperry@hotmail.com for details.
