Sam Robb run July 6

Last Updated on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 01:56 pm Written by Ann Richardson Wednesday, June 27, 2012 01:00 am

Third annual event benefits CURE

OCEAN CITY — It’s been five years since Sam Robb lost his battle against cancer, but his family says Sam will be forever young and strong in their hearts.

Sam’s mother, Annamarie Robb, feels that God spared her only son from further suffering in a hopeless battle against osteosarcoma, a cancer that starts in the bones, on June 25, 2007. For his friends and family, Robb’s memory lives on through the Sam Robb Memorial 5K Fun Run. The third annual event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, July 6 at the 40^th Street beach.

The event is one of many under the umbrella of the national CURE Childhood Cancer foundation, whose mission is to conquer cancer through research, education and the support of patients and their families. Since its establishment, CURE has focused its efforts on improving the care, quality of life and survival rate of children with cancer.

In three years, the Robb family, assisted by a small army of volunteers, has raised over $300,000.

“Our family is forever grateful to the friends who have helped us redefine life without Sam,” Annamarie Robb said.

Sharing their son’s story has helped them get through the tragedy. With the motto “Fightin’ ‘til the last breath,” Sam Robb lived each of his 20 years to the fullest, his mother said.

He grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, moved to Canada and then to Georgia, but spent every summer in Ocean City. The seashore resort was the only place the family called “home.”

Sam Robb was in high school when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. A star quarterback, at 6’5” and 230 pounds, he was a commanding presence on and off the field, Annamarie Robb said.

A stress fracture that wouldn’t heal revealed cancer in his growth plate. Three months of chemotherapy and limb salvage therapy meant an end to his football career. When he recovered, he took to the baseball field and mastered a different sport.

“I met Annemarie when our boys were in kindergarten,” said Jane Custer, who helped organize the inaugural race with her daughter, Mickenzie Custer Helphenstine, two years ago. “Sam was a kid who was going places. He was a character, so full of life.”

The boys, Custer said, knew how to have a good time and “kept life interesting for us.”

Nick Ciccarelli said Sam Robb was his best friend.

“We grew up together. He was a great athlete, the starting quarterback; he would have been a phenomenal player in college. Bone cancer was a big blow to him. The treatment eliminated anything that was a contact sport, but when he found out he could play baseball, he became the best baseball player he could be.

“A synthetic bone allowed him to be competitive,” he said. “He was amazing. He had chemo and rebounded, he never gave up. He loved life, everything was a competition. That he was able to accomplish what he did was an amazing feat, but beyond that he had this wonderful spirit.”

Robb, he said, was “off the wall” fun; high energy, even when he didn’t feel well. Robb pushed the envelope, “always on the edge of trouble,” but in a good way.

“He had a great sense of humor,” he said. “Sam loved competition. He would like that we are all getting together and having fun and that it’s all about sports.”

Sam Robb was Annamarie and husband Sam’s oldest child, and had three younger siblings: Katherine, Caroline and Elizabeth.

Custer said Robb’s first surgery was successful. Later the cancer metastasized. This time he had cancer in his lungs.

Doctors opted to perform surgery, scheduled for a Monday. The Saturday before the surgery, Robb went to an Atlanta Braves game with Ciccarelli.

“He died on the operating table,” Custer said. “He did not make it through. It was such a shock, so awful. Sam was so full of life, and then he was gone.”

This year, the run has special meaning as event cofounder Helphenstine, once a camp counselor for Robb, suffered a challenging year fighting her own battle against breast cancer.

“She played a special role in Sam’s life,” Annamarie Robb said. “She’s such an inspiration.”

Helphenstine, a teacher at the Ocean City Intermediate School, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after last year’s event. She endured numerous surgeries, chemo and this summer begins radiation treatment.
“What a difference a year makes, it’s amazing,” Annamarie Robb said. “She was so supportive of my family, now we must be supportive of her. She starts her last stage of treatment, it’s been pretty intense, a long process.

“She truly is an inspiration; we are going to honor her. We are totally indebted to her. She helped get the ball rolling on this for Sam, we are eager to show some support for her. The good news is she is nearing the end of her treatment.”

Annamarie Robb said she has dedicated her life to helping raise money for a cure for childhood cancer, so that no other mother has to suffer what she has gone through.

“Parents are not supposed to outlive their children. We need research and we need dedicated, trained doctors,” she said. “We need pediatric oncologists, so they can help children. The doctors that cared for Sam were wonderful; what we need is a cure.”

Annamarie said the run is also special, because it is a chance to visit her son.

 “Sam’s ashes were scattered at sea, so we are anchored here. We don’t have a cemetery to visit, so the run in July for me is being as close to Sam as I can get. This is such a positive thing for me, to remember Sam. We are very appreciative,” she said. “This community has been so wonderful.”

For more information, see www.samrobb.com or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . T-shirts will be distributed after the race. Parking is available at Our Lady of Good Counsel at 40th Street and Central Avenue. Awards will be given to top finishers overall and in each age group.