Why I’m Running is a series of inspirational stories surrounding breast cancer. Why are you running? Submit your story.
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
Inspiring Divas
With faith I, a newbie, will run my first half-marathon in memory of my two inspiring angels. My great friend and cousin (as she called me), Donna Hinkle and my aunt Norberta Taylor both fought an amazing battle. Donna was a 5 yr breast cancer survivor with 3 recurrences, multiple chemos and surgeries. Despite all she endured, she gave everyone of us strength and courage. Donna was gone too soon, less than a month of her 35th birthday, in 2007. But not before leaving she made sure her legacy lives on with a baby girl named Gabrielle, who is now 3 yrs old. My aunt Norberta was a 23 yr breast cancer survivor with 3 recurrences and multiple chemos and surgeries as well. She was a carefree soul who lived everyday as her last. She danced like there was no tomorrow. She was gone in 2008. Donna and my aunt met at my wedding in 2005 and I saw the sisterhood that only those that have gone through it have. I have them in my heart always. I thank Donna for all the courage and strength she has given me and my aunt for her carefree soul that I now possess. I run in memory of these inspiring Divas.
Odette Oliveras
We Run for Joy
Barbara, Jim, Julie, Mary & Bryan
Barbara
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