"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!