5K 10th Anniversary

On Saturday morning I walked in the 10th annual 5K that my step-dad's mom, siblings, my mom and various family members put on to raise money for a local agency that helps people going through chemotherapy with a wide variety of things that they may need. My Mom works hard collecting money from sponsors, silent auction donations, and door prizes.  This year she alone raised almost $6,000, collected 48 door prizes and 13 silent auction items, and did a tv and two or three radio interviews to advertise the event.

My step-grandma has survived cancer as many as 8 different times, my grandma had breast cancer, my aunt passed away of ovarian cancer almost 4 years ago, and my uncle is a survivor of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma so it is a cause close to our hearts.  Our aunt on my husband's side is fighting a battle with cancer.  I have a high school and a college friend whose Mom's are both breast cancer survivors.  I'm so thankful for the survivors and want to honor the memory of those who have passed away.  I remember being asked as a high school student if I knew anyone with cancer, and at the time I did not.  Now it seems to be everywhere. :( 

One of my oldest and dearest friends lost her Mom to pancreatic cancer last October at only 57 years old. I was thankful that she was able to walk the 5K with me this year. She and her husband bought a house that they are in the finishing stages of remodeling and she has 43 animals and 3 boys with busy schedules so we don't see as much of each other lately as we would like to. It was nice to be able to catch up as we walked, even if we did get wet in the rain!  Our time was just under 48 minutes, putting us 23rd and 24th overall for the 5K Walk category.  I am generally just happy not to finish last, but I was curious what our time was. ;)

They have a one mile fun run for kids age 12 and under before the 5K. This is the 4th year our son has done it. He looks forward to it each year and I am always proud of him for finishing the mile! He didn't even hesitate to run despite the fact that there was a light rain during the race.

My step-dad has been running with my teenage brother who is a cross country runner and he ran his first 5K this year. He and I also each took a lap with this handsome boy. :)

I think the crummy weather definitely affected the turn out for the fun run and for the 5K, but there was still a handful of Fun Run kids.

My guy and I after his race and before my 5K. Love this kid! 

Sara and I before the 5K 

My sister and I :) I have soggy, not so cute hair, but I still had to get a picture of the two of us. She always helps my Mom at the registration or silent auction table and then keeps an eye on my son while I walk the 5K.

I don't think I have posted pictures of the prior years we have participated in the Fun Run and/or the 5K.  A 10th Anniversary post seems like a good time to get them posted.  I think that 2009 was the first year our son did the Fun Run.  He was pretty young to run a mile at the time but he did his best.  I think my sister might have carried him part of the way. ;)  Our nephew is 3 years older so he did the Fun Run on his own.

I think 2010 (the 7th year of the 5K) was the first year I walked.  My dear friends Jacinda and Adrienne walked with me this year. :)

In 2011 our son was sick and not able to do the Fun Run.  He was so bummed!  I brought our daughter with me this year and my friend Jacinda and her sister Jocelyn walked with me.  Jacinda had already moved to Tennessee by that time, and I was so happy she happened to be home for her bridal shower the weekend of the 5K!

 

2012 was the first year our son finished the full mile of the Fun Run on his own.  Each of the kids gets a medal of completion and he is so proud of it!  My friend from elementary school that used to spend weeks with us in the summer as a kid came to walk this year.  Her daughters walked the 5K with us and did a great job!  

Our 4 year old has been asking when she can do the Fun Run like her older brother.  I told her that next year she can.  She is already looking forward to it.  I love knowing that we are raising money for a great cause!  We are praying for a cure for this nasty disease that affects so many!!