Why I HATE Run For Her

Why I hate Run For Her.

Run For Her, a 5K that raises awareness and funds for research on ovarian cancer, the most deadly cancers of all genealogical cancers. I hate it. I took part in it, as did my daughter, but I hate it. 

I hate it because it even has to exist. Because as I was running, I had to see a sign with a date of August 27, 1982- July 25, 2013. Because she was my age. I was born August 12, 1982- she was almost 31 when she died. Because I saw a sign with a date of 1986-2006- because she was 20!

I hate it because I watched over 5000 people raise almost a million dollars for research. 

I hate it because I had a bib on my back that said I was participating in honor of my aunt. 

I hate it simply because Run For Her has to exist. It exists because ovarian cancer exists, and because of that, I hate it. 

I hate it because every step I took, every bib I looked at every sign that was carried, was a representation of another life that was claimed by this awful horrible disease. Joy that was robbed from families. Every person I looked at had a story of how this cancer touched their life, brought tears to their eyes and crushed their hearts. 

I hate it because it left husbands without wives, daughters and sins with out mothers, sisters and brothers without their sister, grandchildren without their grandma, fathers and mothers without daughters and friends without friends. It left a void in each heart of the people in teal shirts surrounding me, 

Now, let me tell you my story from today. I started out walking with my cousins, mom, daughter, uncle, aunt and friends. It was amazing to see the response of people that were participating in this truly amazing fundraiser. We chatted, we walked and talked, about menial things. My daughter took off running, and we stopped at a coffee bean and tea leaf for a pit stop, yeah, that happened. Anyhow, after that, it was a little past the half way part, and I decided to catch up to my daughter. It was then, I was alone with my thoughts. My aunts comment that she made earlier was that it was so nice to see this event become so successful, but it was sad that they had to have it. Which is so true. Even though I was running- I truly looked around, I read the bibs and signs more closely. I wondered about this names, who they were, what their story was. And then, I cried, 

I cried for a lot of reasons, I cried because I as able to witness people refusing to let their loved one die in vein- they vowed to keep their loved-ones memory alive. I cried because this event even had to exist, and I cried because I saw how wildly successful this fundraiser was. Nearly a million dollars. I cried because I saw all the companies and sponsors involved and then, I cried, because the only reason I was there, was because of my Aunt Ruth. 

But I was also able to reflect on so many positive things, and that. Are my heart happy- it made me understand that I don't hate Run For Her, and I never really did along. What I hate is ovarian cancer....and to be quite honest, all cancers. I realized, I would walk a million miles if it mean not another woman had to be diagnoses with ovarian cancer. 

I encourage you to learn more about ovarian cancer, to learn more about Run For Her. There is no doubt in my mind, that I will participate in the run next year, and that I will fundraise for this with so much more gusto.