Thirteen years ago this March my mother, Gail Richard, was diagnosed with advanced cancer of the appendix. A couple of months later, she walked her Suvivor lap at Relay for Life. She died later that same year, and I was beside her, holding her hand.
In 2016 I ran my first Mother's Day Half Marathon with my five kiddos waiting at the finish line! I ran to give back to the Cancer Connection and all the volunteers who make living with cancer - and caring for someone with cancer - a little bit easier. Running alongisde hundreds of people who want to stand up to cancer was the most inspiring race of my life! My dad, Jerry Richard, lived to hear the tale of my first half, but he died peacefully later the same year, joining my mother in some great RV park in heaven!
This year Amanda and I are back for a fourth time at the starting line with Gail and Jerry in our hearts. While I can no longer run, we will be walking for a couple hours, thinking only of fond memories of my folks and imagining all the ways we can support people living with a diagnosis like my mother's.
If you knew my dad, you know that during his retirement he sent over 65,000 postcards to family and friends he met along the way. If you ran into him as he was crossing the country in his RV, if you were his flight attendant, if you were one of the nurses at cardiac rehab, you probably got a postcard or two from him. Now it's my turn! EVERYONE WHO DONATES GETS A POSTCARD from Jerry's collection! I am still going through the many boxes of the blank cards he left behind.
Please help us reach our goal and support those living so close to cancer.
No donation is too small!
Sending love notes to everyone out there,
Heather, Amanda, and
WMass Mother's Day Half Marathon
The WMass Mother's Day Half Marathon has been supporting Cancer Connection for 14 years! .
This race is one of extremely FEW that operate on donation. Race expenses are kept to a minimum, yet we try to make the runners' experience top-notch. This race has a vibe of gratitude, appreciation and so much love. Not only are runners happy to run, volunteers are happy to help and cancer-warriors are happy to benefit from the free services provided by Cancer Connection.
It is truly The BEST half in Western Mass! This race makes an impact!
Cancer Connection provides a haven where people with cancer and their loved ones can learn how to navigate the difficulties of cancer through FREE one-to-one guidance, education, peer support, integrative therapies and exercise and creative programs.