Cancer survivors and supporters are flexing their fundraising muscles in preparation for Walk for Hope Nationally Presented by Staples — and City of Hope faculty and staff will lead the charge in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Walk for Hope takes place Nov. 7 at City of Hope in Duarte, Calif. The fundraising walk provides crucial resources for the Women’s Cancers Program at City of Hope.

A Sodexo volunteer, left, serves ice cream to Nicole Herrera, Sharla Moore and Joanne Mortimer at a recent Walk for Hope employee event. (Photo by Thomas Brown)

“The search for new therapies and better interventions requires an enormous team,” said Joanne Mortimer, M.D., director of the Women’s Cancers Program. “Our clinicians, scientists and staff members contribute so much through their work at City of Hope, and it’s so gratifying to see them come out to Walk for Hope to continue to give. They understand firsthand the importance of the fight against breast and gynecologic cancers.”

Organizers expect more than 9,000 walkers to join in the carnival-like atmosphere at the Los Angeles Walk for Hope. The event includes a 5-kilometer route or a 2-kilometer leisure walk, as well as live music, sponsored giveaways and children’s activities.

Members of The Home Team, City of Hope staffers who raise funds through Walk for Hope, recently got a jump start to the upcoming event at an ice cream social. Members of The Home Team can form employee teams for the event and are eligible for on-campus parking, advance T-shirt pickup and other benefits. More details, including information on creating a team page, are available at www.coh.org/the-home-team.

“Talking to some of our loyal walkers, we’re really excited about the momentum that’s building for this year’s L.A. Walk for Hope,” said Courtney Webb, an event organizer. “This is a great opportunity for people to honor the women in their lives. We are encouraging all of our teams to register now and focus on fundraising.”

Walk for Hope’s national sponsors include presenting sponsor Staples, as well as Ladies’ Home Journal and Farmers Insurance Group.

Now in its 14th year, the Los Angeles Walk for Hope is the final event in a nationwide series that already included walks in San Diego, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Phoenix hosts its Walk for Hope on Sept. 26, with events in Chicago and Seattle to follow Oct. 3.

To learn more about Walk for Hope, go to www.walk4hope.org.