Run for the Hills

As I have said before finding a race has been a key to me feeling like I can accomplish my goal of running a 5K. I had hoped to run a 5K this month (June) as a fundraiser for Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. My oldest son has been having some health issues over the past 5 months, and Children's has been a godsend for our family. This was my way of giving back. Well it has become appallingly clear that I am not going to be ready to run a 5K in three weeks, and despite my desire to complete this race, there is no way I will be able to run the whole thing. Now it is a run/walk, but I really want to run the whole thing. That is the whole point of this challenge. Plus I was hoping to do this before the disgusting Midwest humidity set in. But as I said things change, and sometimes life throws you a curveball you never saw coming.

Many of my friends and family know that cancer runs in my family, in fact when my son was going through all of his health issues waiting for his blood test results were the most painful two days of my life as all of the thoughts of "could it be cancer" thoughts went through my head. Luckily he is fine. However, cancer has continued to affect my life. Seven years ago my father died of oral cancer. Last year my uncle, his brother died of lung cancer. My Aunt’s (their sister) husband also died of lung cancer last year. Six years ago my husband’s best friend’s mother died of lung cancer. Last year my best friend’s mother died of brain cancer. Prior to my grandfather’s death about 20 years ago he fought kidney cancer. A few years ago my comadre’s mother had breast cancer and survived; one of my friends from growing up had breast cancer and survived. My pseudo-sister-in-law has survived cervical and stomach cancer. Clearly cancer has been intertwined with my life for years.

And then there is Hillary… Hillary was the valedictorian of my high school class. She was a swimmer and played water polo. She worked with Amigos de las Americas where she did community service in Ecuador and Mexico. She went to University of Pennsylvania for two years before transferring to University of California Berkley and graduating with honors. She is married and has a daughter, Alma, who is 3. In 2008 Hillary, inspired by areas in which she has work, Hillary was admitted to and began her Registered Nursing Program. Two weeks before her graduation in 2010, Hillary was diagnosed with oral cancer. After a yearlong battle, Hillary succumbed to the disease on May 18, 2011. She was 33. She was my friend, and she was a kind and generous person, with a beautiful spirit. Hillary's spirit will live on in the memories of those who knew and loved her and her beauty and vivaciousness will live on in her daughter.

Because of Hillary and the other family and friends I have lost and have watched fight and survive cancer, I have decided to run the Race Against Cancer 5K in August and Run for the Bear (benefiting the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation) in October. I will be posting fundraising information as I have it set up. I am however also going to raise funds for Run for the Hills which is raising money for Hillary’s daughter. I am including the link for Run for the Hills, if you would like to donate directly, feel free, otherwise I will be setting up a fundraising page soon.

Hillary and Alma

Run for the Hills
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130044020355184