Salem, Mass.  – Recognizing the pinch that the economy places on its donors, the North Shore Medical Center (NSMC) Cancer WALK team has decided to waive the $15 walker registration fee this year. Each month has brought additional news of job layoffs and tough times across New England, and NSMC has recognized the hardships that participants are facing.

Eliminating the registration fee for 2009 will encourage more people to join the WALK, bring friends, and raise money in support of the new Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center opening in Danvers in June. If walkers have already registered on-line or by mail, NSMC will be happy to refund the $15 fee, or put this money toward a fundraising goal.

In 18 years, the NSMC Cancer WALK has raised more than $14 million in the fight against cancer. Each walker typically raises $100 or more – money that will directly benefit the expansion and relocation of the NSMC Cancer Center to the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care. The state-of-the-art facility will ensure continued access to comprehensive and coordinated medical, surgical, and radiation oncology care in a compassionate, community-based environment.

If you have already registered on-line or by mail, we will be happy to refund the $15 fee to you, or you may allocate this money toward your fundraising goal. Please call Tracey Chalifour at 978-825-6129 (email tchalifour@partners.org) or Rose Fisher 978-825-6116 (email rfisher3@partners.org) if you would like a refund.

For more information, or to register for the 2009 NSMC Cancer WALK, please log on to www.nsmccancerwalk.org.