I run because there aren't always answers
Why is an 18 year old diagnosed with cancer, before he even graduates high school, just when he's about to embark on his bright future?
Why is a mother and wife lost before she can get to know her beautiful grandchildren?
How can a woman be clear of cancer and not 6 months later it's back and more aggressive than before?
These are just some of the questions I've asked over the past decade. They, and many others, remain unanswered.
In a lot of ways cancer doesn't make sense. There is a great deal we don't know about the science of cancer. And there is a lot we don't understand about its presence in the lives of those we know and love.
I don't expect to learn the answers to questions like the ones above; why cancer happens to a particular individual will never make sense. I do, however, have hope that we will be able to answer other questions about cancer. I believe in the community of great and passionate scientific minds that are constantly asking questions and pushing for answers. I support the American Cancer Society so they can support these scientists. Because of them, one day we will no longer be plagued by the "why" questions. These scientists will not answer them for us, but their discoveries will mean we won't have to ask them in the first place.
I run for the ACS to find answers
It seems that most people are aware the American Cancer Society funds cancer research. It's for good reason that the ACS's role in cancer research is so well recognized (although it's not the only way they spend the dollars they raise, as I've been describing in other posts). The way in which they are dedicated to finding cures is truly impressive.
Since the 1940s the ACS has invested over $3.6 billion in the work of researchers who study cancer development, cancer treatment, and related biology. In that time they have provided funding to 46 people who went on to receive a Nobel Prize. Impressive to say the least! See the list and learn more about their work here.
There is currently over $7.1 million in active research grants in the state of Minnesota alone. I'm proud to say this includes 5 projects at Mayo Clinic. If you're interested in learning what kind of research is being funding and where, check out the details here.
The pay-out from these investments are measured in the advances that have been made in cancer treatment, the preventative measures becoming more common place, and the decreasing rates of yearly cancer deaths. As the science continues to advance we'll continue to see the effects in our families and our communities.
If you'd like to support the research and other programs of the American Cancer Society, please visit my personal fundraising page to make a donation.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
"We will be running as we have before"
I run as part of team DetermiNation
When I was in 7th grade I was on the cross country and track teams. These experiences would good in their own right, but not in a way that made me want to continue the following year. My preteen self definitely didn't think I would ever be part of a running team again. Soccer was more my thing.
Over a decade later I inadvertently proved by younger self wrong. I say inadvertently because I feel I joined a running team without really thinking of it that way. I signed up for the Chicago Marathon DetermiNation program in the spring of 2011 and focused on it as a way to honor those in my life affected by cancer. Upon starting this endeavor, I was set up with a online training program, was part of a marathon class, and ran with a running group. I was surrounded by a great group of others who were running, but it wasn't really a team.
A couple days before the Chicago Marathon, my family and I traveled into the city to face the craziness that is the marathon expo and attend the DetermiNation dinner.
I entered the dinner feeling like an independent runner, one of the 45,000 signed up to run 26 miles through Chicago. I left the dinner feeling like a person on a team, a valuable member of a 700-person crew who collectively had thousands of reasons to be running and had raised over $1 million in support of the American Cancer Society.
Through my experiences with Relay For Life I had felt a connection with friends and classmates that comes from having had some sort of exposure to cancer and its effects. I never imagined I could experience a similar connection with people I was meeting for the first time, but being part of team DetermiNation did just that.
At dinner I heard others' stories and reasons to run, some of which were very similar to mine. On race day, I met other DetermiNation runners before and after the race and was cheered on by supporters I had never met just because of the blue singlet I was wearing. In seeing that DetermiNation blue we instantly knew something about each other. It eased the sharing of stories and brought to the surface a commonality we otherwise would have never discovered.
I feel honored and proud
...to be a part of team DetermiNation
...to have run with that team in Chicago and be preparing for Twin Cities
...to be making my miles more meaningful
...to wear my singlet proudly during many races and training runs
...to share my story
...to have watched fellow DetermiNation teammates take on a new challenge in honor of those they love
I run and so does the ACS
In 1985, Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, walked and ran around a track in Tacoma, Washington for 24 hours. He invited friends to join him along his journey in exchange for donations to the American Cancer Society. In the process he raised $27,000 for the ACS and inspired an event that would be come to known as Relay For Life. (for more details about the history, click here).
Relay For Life grew in the decades that followed. The overnight event brings communities together to celebrate cancer survivors, to remember those who have been lost, and to promote ways to fight back against this disease. IT is now held in every state across the country and elsewhere outside of the US. It's a powerful event in which participants form teams and take turns walking a track all night. The track is lit through the darkness by luminarias, candlelit bags in honor of those who've been affected by cancer. Various activities and entertainment are planned and money is raised to support the mission of the ACS. Visit www.relayforlife.org to learn more about events near you.
DetermiNation started in the 90s as a program called Charity Runner. The American Cancer Society made it's first running presence at the Chicago Marathon. In exchange for their runners of all abilities fundraising for their organization, the ACS provided training and race support. Over the coming years the program would change names and expand to races around the country while maintaining its supportive partnership with its participants.
DetermiNation is truly a means through which to make your miles more meaningful. It fosters a memorable running experience that allows runners to honor loved ones and support an organization that does so much to advance cancer research, education, and support. If you have a personal connection to cancer, I encourage you to consider doing your next, or first, race with DetermiNation. Find out more about how you can at http://go.acsdetermination.org/.
When I was in 7th grade I was on the cross country and track teams. These experiences would good in their own right, but not in a way that made me want to continue the following year. My preteen self definitely didn't think I would ever be part of a running team again. Soccer was more my thing.
Over a decade later I inadvertently proved by younger self wrong. I say inadvertently because I feel I joined a running team without really thinking of it that way. I signed up for the Chicago Marathon DetermiNation program in the spring of 2011 and focused on it as a way to honor those in my life affected by cancer. Upon starting this endeavor, I was set up with a online training program, was part of a marathon class, and ran with a running group. I was surrounded by a great group of others who were running, but it wasn't really a team.
A couple days before the Chicago Marathon, my family and I traveled into the city to face the craziness that is the marathon expo and attend the DetermiNation dinner.
I entered the dinner feeling like an independent runner, one of the 45,000 signed up to run 26 miles through Chicago. I left the dinner feeling like a person on a team, a valuable member of a 700-person crew who collectively had thousands of reasons to be running and had raised over $1 million in support of the American Cancer Society.
Through my experiences with Relay For Life I had felt a connection with friends and classmates that comes from having had some sort of exposure to cancer and its effects. I never imagined I could experience a similar connection with people I was meeting for the first time, but being part of team DetermiNation did just that.
At dinner I heard others' stories and reasons to run, some of which were very similar to mine. On race day, I met other DetermiNation runners before and after the race and was cheered on by supporters I had never met just because of the blue singlet I was wearing. In seeing that DetermiNation blue we instantly knew something about each other. It eased the sharing of stories and brought to the surface a commonality we otherwise would have never discovered.
I feel honored and proud
...to have run with that team in Chicago and be preparing for Twin Cities
...to be making my miles more meaningful
...to wear my singlet proudly during many races and training runs
...to share my story
...to have watched fellow DetermiNation teammates take on a new challenge in honor of those they love
In 1985, Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, walked and ran around a track in Tacoma, Washington for 24 hours. He invited friends to join him along his journey in exchange for donations to the American Cancer Society. In the process he raised $27,000 for the ACS and inspired an event that would be come to known as Relay For Life. (for more details about the history, click here).
Relay For Life grew in the decades that followed. The overnight event brings communities together to celebrate cancer survivors, to remember those who have been lost, and to promote ways to fight back against this disease. IT is now held in every state across the country and elsewhere outside of the US. It's a powerful event in which participants form teams and take turns walking a track all night. The track is lit through the darkness by luminarias, candlelit bags in honor of those who've been affected by cancer. Various activities and entertainment are planned and money is raised to support the mission of the ACS. Visit www.relayforlife.org to learn more about events near you.
DetermiNation started in the 90s as a program called Charity Runner. The American Cancer Society made it's first running presence at the Chicago Marathon. In exchange for their runners of all abilities fundraising for their organization, the ACS provided training and race support. Over the coming years the program would change names and expand to races around the country while maintaining its supportive partnership with its participants.
DetermiNation is truly a means through which to make your miles more meaningful. It fosters a memorable running experience that allows runners to honor loved ones and support an organization that does so much to advance cancer research, education, and support. If you have a personal connection to cancer, I encourage you to consider doing your next, or first, race with DetermiNation. Find out more about how you can at http://go.acsdetermination.org/.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
"And if you ask me why I am still running, I'll tell you I run for us all"
I run for everyone
Statistics are a funny thing. We're bombarded by proportions and large numbers over and over: '4 out of 5 dentists recommend...' or '1 billion served...' or '60% of the time it works every time.' And they're supposed to have meaning, to carry weight, to reflect the state of something? Well, they are all meaningful, except for maybe the last one, in the right context. It's the context that is key.
Numbers and stats about cancer are no different: 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year, 11 million cancer survivors will celebrate another birthday while nearly 580,000 Americans will die from cancer this year.
These big numbers describing the extent of cancer effects sure do hit hard. But at the same rate, those numbers, that quantity of individuals, is difficult to comprehend...they need context.
70,000 young adults... like a classmate who was diagnosed with cancer our senior year of high school
11 million more birthdays... like a family friend's father who has celebrated two more birthdays since his cancer diagnosis
580,000 will die from cancer in a year... like that 4 month span in which my mom lost 3 friends to cancer
When you take these statistics and apply them to personal experiences, to the things you know, they become very real and comprehensible. 70,000...11 million...580,000 are not just numbers they are thousands, they are millions of people who are someone's classmate, father, friend, child, sibling, mentor, and so much more.
I run and fundraise in honor of the relatively few (compared to the millions) in my life who've been affected by cancer because they are, in a way, the millions. It's obvious that everyone affected is an individual with a community of some kind, not just a number. But it takes a moment to really step back and understand that fact, to understand the statistics as more than hard hitting numbers. That large number that we can't quite comprehend is the same as the small number we do know.
And so by running in honor of loved ones, I run for us all. I run for those I've met, for those I haven't, for those who've been diagnosed with cancer, and those who will be.
I run for Cancer Prevention Studies that affect us all
The American Cancer Society has a long history of supporting large scale prospective research studies, called Cancer Prevention Studies. These studies, started in the 1950s, have revealed important links between environmental and personal factors and cancer.
Cancer Prevention Study I (CPS-I) conducted from 1959-1972 revealed the link between tobacco use and cancer. And as we all know, this discovery has directed education, public policy, and changes to our environment.
In CPS-II, started in 1982 with follow-up ongoing, links between obesity, physical activity, and nutrition and cancer have been revealed. We now know that obesity increases risk where activity and a balanced diet can decrease risk for certain cancers.
And there are more specifics that have been gleaned. To learn about the other cancer-related discoveries by Cancer Prevention Studies go here.
The next big one is ongoing. Cancer Prevention Study-3 is currently recruiting individuals age 30-65 who have no personal history of cancer to participate. The time commitment is minimal and the potential benefit is huge. Consider being a part of history and the next big discovery in our knowledge of cancer risk and development. To learn more about participation, check out the CPS-III webpage.
To support the American Cancer Society in their efforts to better understand why cancer happens consider making a donation, every dollar makes a difference. You can do so at my personal fundraising page.
Thank you for your reading my blog!
Statistics are a funny thing. We're bombarded by proportions and large numbers over and over: '4 out of 5 dentists recommend...' or '1 billion served...' or '60% of the time it works every time.' And they're supposed to have meaning, to carry weight, to reflect the state of something? Well, they are all meaningful, except for maybe the last one, in the right context. It's the context that is key.
Numbers and stats about cancer are no different: 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year, 11 million cancer survivors will celebrate another birthday while nearly 580,000 Americans will die from cancer this year.
These big numbers describing the extent of cancer effects sure do hit hard. But at the same rate, those numbers, that quantity of individuals, is difficult to comprehend...they need context.
70,000 young adults... like a classmate who was diagnosed with cancer our senior year of high school
11 million more birthdays... like a family friend's father who has celebrated two more birthdays since his cancer diagnosis
580,000 will die from cancer in a year... like that 4 month span in which my mom lost 3 friends to cancer
When you take these statistics and apply them to personal experiences, to the things you know, they become very real and comprehensible. 70,000...11 million...580,000 are not just numbers they are thousands, they are millions of people who are someone's classmate, father, friend, child, sibling, mentor, and so much more.
I run and fundraise in honor of the relatively few (compared to the millions) in my life who've been affected by cancer because they are, in a way, the millions. It's obvious that everyone affected is an individual with a community of some kind, not just a number. But it takes a moment to really step back and understand that fact, to understand the statistics as more than hard hitting numbers. That large number that we can't quite comprehend is the same as the small number we do know.
And so by running in honor of loved ones, I run for us all. I run for those I've met, for those I haven't, for those who've been diagnosed with cancer, and those who will be.
I run for Cancer Prevention Studies that affect us all
The American Cancer Society has a long history of supporting large scale prospective research studies, called Cancer Prevention Studies. These studies, started in the 1950s, have revealed important links between environmental and personal factors and cancer.
Cancer Prevention Study I (CPS-I) conducted from 1959-1972 revealed the link between tobacco use and cancer. And as we all know, this discovery has directed education, public policy, and changes to our environment.
In CPS-II, started in 1982 with follow-up ongoing, links between obesity, physical activity, and nutrition and cancer have been revealed. We now know that obesity increases risk where activity and a balanced diet can decrease risk for certain cancers.
And there are more specifics that have been gleaned. To learn about the other cancer-related discoveries by Cancer Prevention Studies go here.
The next big one is ongoing. Cancer Prevention Study-3 is currently recruiting individuals age 30-65 who have no personal history of cancer to participate. The time commitment is minimal and the potential benefit is huge. Consider being a part of history and the next big discovery in our knowledge of cancer risk and development. To learn more about participation, check out the CPS-III webpage.To support the American Cancer Society in their efforts to better understand why cancer happens consider making a donation, every dollar makes a difference. You can do so at my personal fundraising page.
Thank you for your reading my blog!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
"I run for life"
I'll run for a lifetime
Last summer I took a marathon training class. We met weekly to discuss the various aspects of training for an running marathons, half-marathons and other races. The topics included nutrition, running strategy, strengthening, streching, and so on. At our last class, Lin, the course coordinator, delivered a wonderful pep talk and send-off. She reassured us that we were prepared, reminded us to really absorb all aspects of the experience, and encouraged us, regardless of what unexpected challenges may arise, to keeping moving forward whatever the pace may be.
The community of runners I've become part of includes people who started running at various stages in their life, from grade school to well into adulthood. I've ran with people who have children my age and watched a, nearly, 71-year old run his 71st marathon. It truly is inspiring to see the various ways running (or cycling, or swimming, or any other activity) weaves itself into someone's life and becomes a value, a passion that stays with that person. Seeing such a thing in others has enhanced appreciation of an active lifestyle and led me to a personal aspiration - to run for life.
I don't know what lies ahead of me, or what my body will allow me to do years or even months from now. But I do know I will heed Lin's advice and keep moving forward, be it a run, jog, mosey, walk or otherwise.
I run for Stay Well initiatives
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to helping people stay well, knowing that it will decrease their risk for certain cancers and live a full life. Healthy behaviors, such as avoiding tobacco, eating right, and staying active, have been associated with a decreased risk for certain types of cancer. Additionally, various screening tests are known to be effective to finding cancer early or before it has a chance to start.
The ACS not only played a large role in these discoveries but has committed to translating the knowledge into action and decreasing the incidence of cancer. I encourage you to check out "Stay Healthy," one of the main pages on their website, www.cancer.org. You'll find a number of different programs that are available to you to help you on a journey to stay well. In addition to those programs there is extensive education and implementation strategies related to avoiding tobacco, eating healthy and staying active, being safe in the sun, and finding cancer early.
I hope you find this information useful and feel empowered to affect the modifiable cancer risk factors in your life. Please share with others, we truly can change the course of cancer.
If you'd like to support the American Cancer Society's mission to help people stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back, please consider making a donation via my personal fundraising page.
Last summer I took a marathon training class. We met weekly to discuss the various aspects of training for an running marathons, half-marathons and other races. The topics included nutrition, running strategy, strengthening, streching, and so on. At our last class, Lin, the course coordinator, delivered a wonderful pep talk and send-off. She reassured us that we were prepared, reminded us to really absorb all aspects of the experience, and encouraged us, regardless of what unexpected challenges may arise, to keeping moving forward whatever the pace may be.
The community of runners I've become part of includes people who started running at various stages in their life, from grade school to well into adulthood. I've ran with people who have children my age and watched a, nearly, 71-year old run his 71st marathon. It truly is inspiring to see the various ways running (or cycling, or swimming, or any other activity) weaves itself into someone's life and becomes a value, a passion that stays with that person. Seeing such a thing in others has enhanced appreciation of an active lifestyle and led me to a personal aspiration - to run for life.
I don't know what lies ahead of me, or what my body will allow me to do years or even months from now. But I do know I will heed Lin's advice and keep moving forward, be it a run, jog, mosey, walk or otherwise.
I run for Stay Well initiatives
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to helping people stay well, knowing that it will decrease their risk for certain cancers and live a full life. Healthy behaviors, such as avoiding tobacco, eating right, and staying active, have been associated with a decreased risk for certain types of cancer. Additionally, various screening tests are known to be effective to finding cancer early or before it has a chance to start.
The ACS not only played a large role in these discoveries but has committed to translating the knowledge into action and decreasing the incidence of cancer. I encourage you to check out "Stay Healthy," one of the main pages on their website, www.cancer.org. You'll find a number of different programs that are available to you to help you on a journey to stay well. In addition to those programs there is extensive education and implementation strategies related to avoiding tobacco, eating healthy and staying active, being safe in the sun, and finding cancer early.
I hope you find this information useful and feel empowered to affect the modifiable cancer risk factors in your life. Please share with others, we truly can change the course of cancer.
If you'd like to support the American Cancer Society's mission to help people stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back, please consider making a donation via my personal fundraising page.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
"I run for you and me my friend"
I run for community
"We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust swirling and dancing on the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal, we have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity."
-from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I think it's incredible to look back on life and reflect on the experiences and the people who have been a part of the journey. Everything, whether briefly or forever a part of our lives, can impact who we are and what we will become. The beautiful, the memorable, the challenging, and the indescribable moments are precious aspects of eternity.
I am both amazed by and thankful for the experiences and the people who have played a role in the running part of my life. Here's to you, friends, strangers, mentors, family, and fellow runners...
I run for ACS communities
The American Cancer Society commits itself to connecting those who have cancer with mentors, support staff, and others with cancer. It's part of their mission to help people get well. And through offering support in various ways, the ACS is helping people get well in the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of wellness. If you know someone facing cancer, consider sharing info about the following programs:
"I Can Cope" Classes - free cancer education program for those diagnosed with cancer and their families and caregivers; available in communities across the country and online
Online Communities and Support - a way to connect with others who are facing or have faced a cancer diagnosis
Reach to Recovery - where women dealing with breast cancer can connect with a volunteer who can give support related to the diagnosis, treatment, and other associated concerns
Man to Man - provides community-based education and one-on-one support for men with prostate cancer and their families
Patient Navigator Program - individuals who work in areas with cancer treatment centers and are available to meet one-on-one to help plan for cancer treatments and other aspects of a cancer diagnosis (find out more by calling 1-800-227-2345)
To support these programs and the rest of the American Cancer Society's mission, consider making a donation through my personal fundraising page
"We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust swirling and dancing on the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal, we have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity."
-from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I think it's incredible to look back on life and reflect on the experiences and the people who have been a part of the journey. Everything, whether briefly or forever a part of our lives, can impact who we are and what we will become. The beautiful, the memorable, the challenging, and the indescribable moments are precious aspects of eternity.
I am both amazed by and thankful for the experiences and the people who have played a role in the running part of my life. Here's to you, friends, strangers, mentors, family, and fellow runners...
...for inviting or encouraging me to take on a race, for running races with me, or just signing me up since I was coming to town
...for tri-ing as a team
...for training with me, short and far distances, at all paces (sometimes many within one run, on purpose or not!)
...for offering advice, sharing personal experiences, and being a running and morale coach
...for coming out to watch me run, giving me a place to stay pre- and
post-race, waking up early, eating bland pre-race dinners,
and taking sweet pics that are usually better than any of the
professional ones
...for being a fellow runner sending encouragement from near and far, providing good luck phone calls and notes, and sharing your own running stories
...for running races so I can come watch you or joining me to watch
our friends with plenty of yelling, cowbell ringing, and jumping fun
...for making DetermiNation an incredible team to be a part of and for sharing your personal reasons to run
...for being part of an incredible, invaluable running community.
I run for ACS communities
The American Cancer Society commits itself to connecting those who have cancer with mentors, support staff, and others with cancer. It's part of their mission to help people get well. And through offering support in various ways, the ACS is helping people get well in the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of wellness. If you know someone facing cancer, consider sharing info about the following programs:
"I Can Cope" Classes - free cancer education program for those diagnosed with cancer and their families and caregivers; available in communities across the country and online
Online Communities and Support - a way to connect with others who are facing or have faced a cancer diagnosis
Reach to Recovery - where women dealing with breast cancer can connect with a volunteer who can give support related to the diagnosis, treatment, and other associated concerns
Man to Man - provides community-based education and one-on-one support for men with prostate cancer and their families
Patient Navigator Program - individuals who work in areas with cancer treatment centers and are available to meet one-on-one to help plan for cancer treatments and other aspects of a cancer diagnosis (find out more by calling 1-800-227-2345)
To support these programs and the rest of the American Cancer Society's mission, consider making a donation through my personal fundraising page
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