When your legs get tired, run with your heart!

Sunrise over the race festivities

Mom on the Wall of Hope

Race start line

On Sunday I ran the Florida Brain Cancer 5k to benefit Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2) in memory of my mom.  It was emotional for me, but I also felt encouraged that there were like-minded people who felt the cause was important. I also felt encouraged by all the support from my family, friends, and workplace. My co-worker Will lost his dad to brain cancer and had already started a fundraising team for the race so I joined up with him and together our team raised $6,000! The event as a whole raised over $140,000 toward the cause! I just wish some of this money actually resulted in some kind of breakthrough because it's such a devastating disease, any improvement in prognosis or quality of life would help. It makes me feel good to do something that is important to my mom's memory. I think she would be happy that I am honoring her by helping to accelerate the research for a cure. Although she was so much more than the way she died, there's a lot to be said for her courage and inspiring attitude through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, clinical trials, and hospice. I often have flashbacks of different memories with her and one that I think about is when her motor skills started to shut down and she had to move with some kinds of assistance, I pulled into the driveway and she popped up and walked all the way to the front window because she was so excited I was home. It's hard to describe how much love is between a mother and daughter, but when I think about that moment I think about how love conquers all, even death. <3

A little sweaty and tired, but I did it! :)