Why I’m Running is a series of inspirational stories surrounding breast cancer. Why are you running? Submit your story.
Why I'm Running
I am running in honor of my wonderful sister(in law)Debbie. She was an amazing woman! The bravest and most faithful person i know. Together about 10 years ago we began running, for exercise and weight loss, after completing our first 5k she had a great idea to try running a marathon with a team of people fighting to cure cancer! all cancer! I first said are you kidding me? 26.2 miles! ? We both laughed and thought yeah right but we did go on to try it. Later that spring we began training and it wasn’t long before we knew why we were doing this, for all of those who can’t and for all of those have had to go through pain and suffering or seeing a loved one go through it, all the treatments and drugs to fight off this horrible disease called cancer.. We finished our race and along the way met many others who were doing the same thing..running, raising awareness of the need to find a cure! On Sept 27 of 04 she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She went to run a breast cancer 5k race a year after her treatments, and was very moved by all the others out there trying to find a cure, it provided hope and she wanted to do more.!! She fought it with bravery and faith and hope for 4 years and on Oct 15 of 08 she passed away, leaving behind a husband, a son, two daughters, and 4 grandchildren. The last run I got to do with Deb was a 5k in the winter of 06 and she had just heard of this marathon coming up for its first year,26.2 with Donna, she said I hope I get to do that race, at least the 1/2 marathon.. maybe next year. Of course I said we will do it..she got the bad news that the cancer had returned the next fall..So I will run with her in spirit and i hope we can finish this fight to end breast cancer!! I won’t stop till we find a cure!! Cyndie Welch
cyndie welch
Why I ran
I ran to honor my cousin, Mary Caroline Dellenbach, and Cheryl Dean, the sister of my former co-worker. Both died too soon. Cheryl had the triple negative, and I wanted to raise awareness of how lethal and how quick this is, and how it did not turn up on her mammogram. My mom died of ovarian cancer, and I survived an early brush with it. That and a diagnosis of diabetes made me decide to get healthy. So I changed my diet, lost 30 lbs, and began running 18 months ago. I ran a five mile leg of the relay, and it was a challenge for me. But I never knew I could do that much! Now the training has become a part of my regular routine. New goals, new awareness.
Janet McMonagle
Why am I running.....
This summer I went to a Christ in Youth Conference with my church. The last night we all were given envelopes. If you opened the envelope you promise to God to do what every is inside. All my friends were getting things like travel over seas and help those in need or cook thanksgiving dinner for 500 families. I was too excited to wait so I ripped mine open, I looked inside and it said run a marathon...... I wasn’t very happy to see this. My best friend in the whole world’s mom died about 2 years ago from breast cancer. One day I was thinking about it, I love my mom so much in the world, I want her to be there for the rest of my life and never leave me. I started thinking of all the things that Melanie will want her mom to be there for like her Graduation, Wedding, the Birth of her children and so many other things. I began to cry thinking of all the pain she must be going through. The nights that she will wake up crying after dreaming of her mother sitting next to her. So I went online and looked up marathons for Breast Cancer and Donna The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer was the first one that poped up. I don’t know what’s in store but I kind of believe everything happens for a reason.
Courtney Scott
My Mom
I am running to honor my mom who lost her 14 year battle with Breast Cancer just over a year ago. The loss of my mother has been the most profound experience of my life. I feel this loss so deeply and it has immensely affected my life. This run means so much to me and my family. My sister and I started the Galloway traiing program so that we could honor our mom’s memory. I have never been a runner before, but I felt that this experience could bring some sense of peace and a feeling of empowerment, in this world where you can feel so powerless. All of this I do for my mom, my sister and for my daughter, Heaven, who is my main inspiration. I hope that she can find some peace in this experience and that she too can feel empowered. I am ready to finish Breast Cancer!
Sabrina Cluesman
Why I'm Running
I am running for my mother, Sydney, who has twice survived, Aunt Anne, Nancy E., Aunt Fran, Barbara, Nancy B., Charlotte, Francesca, Caroline S., Caroline B., Jodie, Ginny, and Gerry. I am running for more reasons than I should.
Caitlin Hawthorne
Why I run
This will be my 3rd year participating in 26.2 with Donna. I run this race for many reasons. First, I run in memory of my sister, Denise. She died at the age of 32 of inflammatory breast cancer. I run for my daughter, Sarah, who I hope never has to experience breast cancer. I run for my parents, who lost their first-born daughter. Lastly, I run for me. My sister’s passing gave me strength I never knew I had. I want to stay strong, and I will because she is always with me.
Leslie Juhn
Jaclyn, I run for you
Jaclyn - my best friend, my soul mate, I run for you. Jaclyn, I love you with all my heart and soul. You give me the strength to endure and persevere. In my mind, you will be by my side every step of the way, cheering me on. I may falter, but I will not fail. Jaclyn, I run for you.
Ren
For my Friends and My Daughters
I’m running for the bravest women I know - Chancy, Diane, Nellica, Sharon - who battled this disease and won! I’m also running for my daughters. Their grandmother on their Dad’s side and all of her sisters died of breast cancer. Both of their grandmother’s daughters, their aunts, had breast cancer - one died at 42, the other is a survivor. I pray and hope that all the funds raised will help with research and cures for this disease so that my daughters and their cousins will face a brighter future.
Cherry Kent
My Sister and Niece
My sister Lorraine found a lump on her breast from the buddie check the lump turned out to be cancer and she had to have her breast removed, when my sister was in the hospital after the surgery my 32 old niece was doing the buddie check and found a lump, her doctor did not want to do a mamagram because he thought she was to you,my niece insisted on getting the mamagram and it ended up being stage 4 cancer, she lost both her breast but her life was saved, my sister passed away three years old and the day before the run is her birthday so I am sure she is going to be sitting on my shoulder tell me I can do this. So this will be my first half marathon and my daughter flew in from Ohio to do it with me. See you all Sunday
Tracey Armon
Why I'm Running
When I first met my mother-in-law, she was already going through breast cancer treatment for over two years. Over the next five years, she would prove to be one of the bravest, most positive people I’ve ever known. Never did she complain or ask, "why me", and her response to our questions of how she felt was always, "I’m hanging in there!", with a big smile on her face. She showed me that you have choices in your life. You can choose to succumb to your fears and stresses or you can fight. You can take a stand and believe in yourself. She always wore a yellow LiveSTRONG bracelet, and that was her commitment. She challenged herself to LiveSTRONG through the good and the bad. Cathy lost her battle to breast cancer last May, but her resilience and attitude in the face of adversity has given me a new perspective and given me the chance to look at distance running in a new way. I now look at marathon running as a choice and a chance. I purposely put the long miles under my feet, but many men and women who are given the diagnosis of cancer never had the chance to accept or deny the diagnosis. The last hill in the "Breast Cancer Marathon", as you’re approaching the finish, seems to go on forever. By that point in the race, your legs hurt and you’re usually just about out of gas. During last year’s race, as I came up the hill, panting and walking, I passed a woman wearing a pink "Survivor" bib and something big occurred to me .......... That hill is over in just a few minutes. I can walk it, run it or even crawl up it and soon enough, I’m on the down slope and across the finish line. For those who are going through cancer treatment, many times there is no down slope, or the journey to get to the easy parts is very long and not easy. So that day, I ran the hill, and never stopped until I finished, where my husband was waiting to welcome me. I can’t wait for the 2010 "26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer", because I know my mother-in-law will be there with me in spirit, reminding me to keep going and to LiveSTRONG.
Mari Johnson
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