During Oral Cancer Awareness Month (April), the Oral Cancer Foundation is hosting the 10th annual DMV Oral Cancer Walk on Saturday, April 27, at Wheaton Regional Park. The Oral Cancer Walk is a proactive effort to bring awareness and raise funds that allow the Oral Cancer Foundation to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support oral cancer survivors. This very successful and renowned walk was brought to life by a selfless man, Peter McGhee Hoffman, who tragically lost his battle with oral cancer at the young age of 24. After his diagnosis, it was important to Peter that others knew about a danger that completely blindsided him. While he fought his own battle against cancer, he put a plan in motion during his final months of life and shared his last wish with his family: To spread awareness about oral cancer through a charity walk and offer free oral cancer screenings. Besides knowing about this cancer too few have even heard of, he wanted people to understand risk factors and early signs and symptoms, so more people could be detected early at survivable stages. To accomplish this, the walk partnered with the Oral Cancer Foundation to ensure science-based information was a component of the event.   

In addition to the annual walk and oral cancer screenings, this year’s event includes a very special guest, Blythe Danner, a multi-award-winning actress known for her lead roles like “Meet the Fockers" and "We Are the Mulvaneys.” Blythe will be speaking about her history with oral cancer, including the devastating passing of her late husband, Bruce Paltrow, in 2002, as well as her own recent battle with oral cancer. As an honored guest at the annual walk, she will share her story and promote the life-saving importance of early detection.