Race for a Cure
It’s still winter here in Ohio, and training is still a cold, mostly painful ordeal for most of us. We do it because we know there is a purpose behind it – a goal to be reached.
What we forget in our cold misery is that our “painful ordeal of training” is really a blessing, as we are able to do it, and we choose to do it voluntarily. Today’s “View from the Hill” reminds us of the real reason we run all those races with a “cause”, and reminds us how lucky we are to be able to run them.
I remember my first experience with a “cause” race, and it was an experience that pushes me even today to get involved with more of them. It was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Toledo, and I ran it as part of a team of folks running with our own cause. A friend and now HFP Teammate Deanna Kiesel was the “Celebration Honoree” for this race – a breast cancer survivor fighting the fight. Having run with her on a regular basis, we all wanted to be a part of her big day. So our little running club – The Findlay Striders – put together a team to run with Deanna (“D”) at the Race for the Cure.
I remember announcer talking about all the good things the Race for the Cure does, all the money it raises for cancer research, how most of the money stays local to help the local community, and a bunch of other things the Komen folks thought we should know. But I remember so much more, especially how it was so much more than just a race. It was a celebration of life, love, friends, and the fight. The fight was in the spotlight, or more specifically those fighting it –some winning, some having already lost.
People run the Komen Race for the Cure for many reasons: some run in celebration of a fighter, some in memory of a loved one who didn’t make it to race day; and Komen provides signs for runners to pin on their jerseys to highlight their personal reasons. I remember running behind two guys who had the same name on their backs, and the smaller one’s sign read “In memory of my Mommy” in his best 8 year old penmanship. I couldn’t help but tussle his hair as I ran by him, I’m just glad my sunglasses were down and he couldn’t see my eyes welling up. To this day we still don’t know each other, so he still doesn’t know he’s been my hero since that day.
I’ve also been blessed to be able to work several Races for the Cure, from Toledo to Cincinnati, and I can tell you it’s an amazing sight to see 15,000 people (or more) lined up to help make a difference. I’ve had the unique privilege of being the first at the finish line to welcome in the hundreds of survivors in their pink shirts and hats; and I’ve served with my kids (and Thee Toledo Reign Women’s Pro Football Team) as official finish line huggers for Survivors. Money can’t buy the things that will teach you (and your kids). For these amazing ladies, completing this race is a very personal triumph – whether they have just been diagnosed, or they are in their 27th year as a survivor (go Betty!). We have laughed, cried, and shared hugs with them and their families; and they help to teach us all about courage, compassion, and caring.
This year’s Columbus Race for the Cure is a poignant one for the HFP family, as Founder and Team Mom Jen Kurek was diagnosed with breast cancer in January. It’s a very personal fight for Jen and Shannon right now, so even if I had details I wouldn’t share them. Jen will share what she wants when she’s ready, and we’ll respect their privacy for as long as that takes. In the meantime…
Team HFP has organized “Run 4 Jen” for the Columbus Race for the Cure, complete with website, sign up details, fundraising options, and more.
If you’ve ever seen Jen at a race, had her sign you in at registration, body mark you in transition, direct you on a course, hydrate you at a water stop, or feed you after a race; then you know what an integral part of every HFP event Jen is. What we forget is that she is “Mom” to 3 of the most energetic kids on the planet – and that trumps any race duties she may have.
On May 15th, please consider joining us in Columbus for the Columbus Race for the Cure (by some stroke of luck – it’s the one weekend all summer without a conflicting HFP race!) and racing with Team HFP in support of Jen and every other mother who has kids to go home to enjoy.
With a lot of help and a little luck, maybe we can make this the last Race for the Cure that’s ever needed. Pray hard, for every mom and every 8 year old boy and his dad.
To help with Team HFP and the Run4Jen, Find the Team site at http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/CLM_ColumbusAffiliate?pg=entry&fr_id=1644, password “run4jen”. Click on "Join a Team", search for Team HFP, then use the password "Run4Jen".
Rich
