A MESSAGE FROM Katie's Fundraising Page
On November 1, 2023, my Dad passed away from an almost decade long battle with renal/lung cancer. I knew I would run a marathon when he died, but I did not tell him. Painful as it was, I knew the importance of telling him it was ok to let go. He didn't want his family to think he gave up, and we assured him we only knew him as a person of incredible strength and will power. I don't know how he lived through that pain each day. Telling my three boys their favorite person, their grandfather, "He" as they called him, had died was an excruciating moment in time. After what seemed like hours of raw emotion, one of my five-year-olds, Cal, found his way to the surface of his sadness and asked, "Mama, does this mean HE is an angel now?" Cal did not wait for my answer. "He is Mama. I know he is. He's an angel now." An incredible peace washed over him. Not long after, I stumbled upon the charity "Cal's Angels" that grants wishes, raises awareness, and funds research to help kids fighting cancer. My cousin Steve died of cancer in 2009 at the age of 20, and my Dad played a significant role in his battle from beginning to end. With each run, I know these loved ones are with me, encouraging me in ways I could not have expected. I am proud to run for Cal's Angels. Cancer is terrible, and I'm doing what I can to make the difficult road more manageable for these brave kids. Please join me. With every donation, big or small, I promise you will help fuel these long training runs, and you will be a part of my race day. Thank you for your consideration.
