Why I’m Running is a series of inspirational stories surrounding breast cancer. Why are you running? Submit your story.
Waverly Bond
When my sweet Uncle Waverly Bond was diagnosed with cancer six months ago for the second time, I thought, what could I do? And then I started seeing more stories about the race with Donna and I talked myself into running for him. I talked to him while he was going through heavy treatments of chemo and radiation and was amazed by his spirit and attitude. It inspired me even more to run and show him how much he meant to me now and when I was growing up. I did not have much time to tell him how I was actually enjoying running because quickly his cancer became terminal. We were all shocked and numb, he had beaten it before. The last conversation we had he was telling me how messed up he was and not feeling himself. I did not get a chance to invite him down for the race. I saw him before he went to the angels a week before this Christmas and was able to tell him I love him.
It just seems like yesterday he was laughing at me about my golf game or telling me a little wisdom of life to make it all better. This race means so much to me and my family. My aunt and some of her family are even coming all the way from North Carolina to support me, I think it helps all of us to keep his beautiful spirit alive. If you are reading this and would like to join my team, it is called Team Bond. Bond was his last name and he was a big hunter so I am having pink, hunting T-shirts made up in his honor.
Ashley Moreland
In memory of Karen Huftalin
My sister, Karen, fought breast cancer for 5 years and in that time she led Team Born to be Alive in three Komen Three- Day-Walks and two Chicago Race for the Cure events. She lost her battle with cancer on November 1st of this year, but we are carrying on her tradition by running the inaugural "26.2 with Donna-National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer". Please help us help others who are fighting to win their own battles with cancer.
Keith & Andrée FitzPatrick
Donna
I will be walking the 1/2 marathon with my two sisters - Susie and Lisa. Lisa was reading Runners World when she saw the whole page ad on the marathon. She brought the page to my house and show it to me and I said "We have to do it". We called our other sister Susie who lives a couple hours away and she said “We have to do it”.
So why did we all 3 of us say "We have to do it"? Our mother passed away from breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 54 after a 4 year battle. Her name was Donna. We all 3 have talked about doing a 1/2 together for about 2 years. Then we see this one that raised money for breast cancer research and has the title “Run with Donna”. I think our mom was sending us a message that we need to get out there and do it instead of keeping talking about it. I hope my 2 little girls never have to experience the pain of breast cancer.
I look forward to the race and know my mother will be with us in spirit the whole 13.1 miles.
Shirley Gingrich
I RUN I RUN I RUN
I started training for my first marathon at age 50 and after my second diagnosis of cancer. Running kept me feeling alive and I found my body remarkable and able to push beyond limits that amazed me. I kept running ..... I run for those who have lost their battle with cancer .... I run for those who are not able .... I run to tell the world that there is always hope. After 10 marathons and a third diagnosis and I still run to say there is always hope!!!!!
Lisa Rice
Why I'm running
"Ya know" not so long ago I took on a challenge of working with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Team in Training). They asked me to raise A LOT of money that I thought I couldn’t achieve. Well, thanks to A LOT of people who believed not only in the mission of Team in Training but in ME I achieved their goal and surpassed it. One of those people who believed in me and TNT was Brenda Luca.
Brenda was deep into her fight with metastasized breast cancer at the time but cheered me on from where she was. She and her husband Roger donated quite a bit to my fund raising campaign and I in turn put her name on my race shirts, my web site, and then participated with her in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Leon County. About a month ago, I turned 40 and decided that it was time for me to "’move up" in my running efforts. So, in honor of so many people that I knew affected by Breast Cancer, I committed to run the newest marathon in Florida: 26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer. I told Brenda all about it. I told her that I wanted her right there waiting for me at the Finish Line at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, on February 17, 2008. I think I knew at the time it would be unlikely for her to be there unless that just happened to be a pre-planned trip to the Clinic for one of her treatments. But, I carried that hope with me nonetheless.
I told my momma and one of my bestest friends Stephanie Corry - both breast cancer survivors, and my friend Cathy Cushing, and a ton of other people what I had planned. Then, during one of our longer training runs (16 miles) I had an awful time. To be frank, it sucked. And, I began to question my plans and wonder just what sort of STUPID Pills I had taken that would make me think I had enough fortitude to run a full marathon. What was I thinking? Well, the week progressed and it was a pretty good week for me run wise. I did ten miles on 12.1.2007 in my best time yet. I was out there sporting my 26.2 with Donna run cap, and my 26.2 with Donna training shirt. In general, just thinking I was all that, and that maybe I might actually be able to finish the marathon. Then I got the news ...
My friend Brenda Luca lost her fight with breast cancer (11.29.2007). Somehow, I just didn’t think she would let it beat her. I truly believed that she and Roger would win. I just knew it. I guess it hurts, and it brings me to tears just to think about everything she went through to win. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be her husband, her twin boys, or her family. I can’t begin to fathom how the world will be a lesser place without her in it. But, I know that she wants us to continue in everything that we had planned. I know that she doesn’t really care for the tear and the hurt, because that is not how she lived her life. She spent her time with us "living it up" and that is what she would want for those who were a part of her world. I just know it.
So, now what do we do? Who is going to step up and be the positive, never-ending source of encouragement, the smile in the midst of every adversity? Who will be "Brenda" when we need her? WE will. We HAVE to. I think each of us has a part of her that we are supposed to nurture, and grow, and use in a manner that reflects Brenda’s spirit and will. I believe that if we all exhibit the part of her that she planted in us, she will continue to be a driving force in our lives. Find your seed that she gave you. Use it the way she would have wanted if she were here to remind you.
Me, I KNOW that she will be at the finish line in February. I know that she will be right beside me for 26.2 miles - she told me often that she wished she could run with me and my momma. Now she can. Not only can she run with me, but lucky her she won’t have to train and buy new shoes; or worry about sore muscles; or getting tired or dehydrated; she won’t have to count how many gels to carry with her; and she won’t get all stinky and sweaty. But, I won’t get to hug her at the end when the finish line officials place that beautiful silver dolphin and stained glass medal around her neck.
I won’t win the race: I’m far too slow. But, hopefully one day the race will be one when we don’t have to run races for cures. When marathons are for fun (Ha!) not for fund raising. When race directors can advertise that they have the best scenery, not the best cause.
Brenda Luca has left a big imprint on my heart. I hope that I can do her memory and spirit justice. Truly, that is my wish for how her legacy will live on in me. That one in February: It’s all you, Brenda! I will miss you more than you can know, and even more than I thought was possible. My love and wishes of peace to your Roger, Will and Jarrod.
Peace.
Lori Abbey
Tallahassee, Florida
Why I'm running
Thank you for organizing this race. I want to help raise money for Breast Cancer Research and to help eliminate breast cancer in my lifetime. Here is my story. In 1997, my mother, Mona Anderson was diagnosed with breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , MN at the age of 54. She went through radiation and had a successful lumpectomy and radiation in the spring and summer of 1997. She was doing great until the winter of 2005/2006. After suffering through pain in her hips and pelvis area for several months after a fall on the ice, she returned to the Mayo Clinic for an evaluation for her pain. After tests, blood work, and a full work up, it was determined that her cancer had returned and this time it had metastasized to the bone and she had pathologic fractures to the pelvis, ribs, and femur resulting in her pain. Upon more diagnostic tests, it was also determined that the cancer had metastasized to the liver. On February 16, 2005 we received the news of the recurrence of my mom’s cancer. On February 17, 2005, (the date of this year’s marathon) we met with Dr. Matthew Goetz, MD and Katie Zahasky, nurse practitioner at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester to determine our treatment plan to fight the cancer. After nearly 10 months of chemotherapy a dose of radiation and two weeks ago a second dose of radiation, I am happy to say that w e are now approaching the two year mark of the recurrence of my mom’s breast cancer and she is still fighting strong and doing extremely well. Thank you to the Mayo Clinic and Breast Cancer Research.
I would like to help in any way possible and would like information on starting a fund raising effort here in Wisconsin. I go with my mother to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester every three weeks. Each visit we are in the Oncology Dept and I would like to help distribute as much information as possible, bot h at the Mayo Clinc in Rochester and in my local town (just outside of Madison, WI). I also would like to see if locally, there is a source to help raise money. Please contact me as soon as possible so that we can get the fund raising started. Can we contact local media outlets? Flyers? Newspaper ads? What can I do to help out?
There is not an hour in a day that goes by that I do not think of my mother, her fight and all of the women fighting this terrible disease. I have a wife, a sister, three sister in laws, three nieces and two daughters who I do not want to have to fight this disease. I would like to do anything th at I can to help raise money to fight breast cancer and to raise money for breast cancer research. Please contact me and let me know what I can do to help.
Thor J. Anderson, DDS. SC
Stoughton WI
A Course in Miracles
I’m "running with Donna" in recognition of my wife and hero, Laurie who is just finishing a year of treatment for breast cancer. I used to think that running a marathon was a difficult thing to do, but it pales in comparison to all of you courageous individuals who have had to battled the physical and emotional pain in your fight against breast cancer. So I run for all of you who have endured through it all. Throughout this last year, Laurie has taught myself, our daughter Julia and son Reed to believe in the miracle of hope, as she constantly reminds us of to live our lives as Albert Einstein encouraged us to do by saying "there are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle". She reminded us that everyday and everything that it entails is a miracle.
Thank you for the work you do in the search for a cure. You are making a difference in the lives of so many.
P.S. I would love to connect with any other runners who are coming down from Canada for the Run with Donna.
Peter Ferguson
London, Ontario Canada
Why I'm running
I’m running in honor of my friend’s mother who passed away from breast cancer in 2007. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, as she lived in France. This is for my dear friend, Laurent Gauthier’s mom. Also, my grandmother passed away… I never had change to know her.
Graciela de Leon
I run for life
I am actually running thanks to Jeff Galloway. I am a new runner, as of January 2007, and was looking for a training program for the Walt Disney Marathon when I came across his training. It was designed for the Breast Cancer Marathon but coincided perfectly with Disney. It was after his training-meeting a number of Wonderful Survivors and learning about the Donna Hicken foundation that I not only wanted to run her Marathon, but needed to.
The reasons I run grow every day. First and foremost, for my most precious gifts, my children. I run for my husband and the loss of his mother, and my children’s grandmother, to breast cancer. I run for my mom and for every mom, sister and daughter who wonders waits for their test results. I run for all of the brave women and their family and friends who have told their stories here, and for those who have not.
I run so that no one will ever again have to say they lost someone to this horrible disease.
God bless you all and I’ll see you on the 17th!
Amy Barrett
Why I'm "not" running
I registered for 26.2 with Donna on 02/02/07. I never dreamed that exactly 9 months to the day I would be diagnosed with breast cancer. So I won’t be running, but I at least hope to be there to share in the sisterhood and fellowship of all involved. My friends will run and I will be there to cheer them on.
Donna Nelson
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