Sarcoma Sucks.
Our family has seen far too much of it.
It sucked when it took Jen’s Nanny Faye.
It sucked when Jen was diagnosed.
It sucked through sleepless nights filled with worry and anxiety.
It sucked through countless trips to Duke for countless treatments and consultations.
It sucked as we feared what was to come – but tried desperately to fight and hope for a treatment to beat it back. It sucked because it just takes and takes and takes. Dignity. Mobility. Independence. Gone.
It sucked that as hard as she fought, Sarcoma kept coming. We lost a Mother, a Wife, a Daughter, a Sister, a friend.
Believe me when I tell you – SARCOMA SUCKS.
It’s been almost two years since we lost Jen to Epithelioid Sarcoma, which is a rare and aggressive form of this sucky cancer (I won’t dignify it by capitalizing the C. Screw you, cancer).
But even in the darkest of times, I never lost sight how fortunate my family has been to have Faith, Friends, and Fellowship to lean on. We’ve been loved, supported, and lifted up at every turn from a massive community of people that loved Jen and our family.
Sarcoma Sucks – but we are truly blessed, even after all we’ve been through. I’ve had it on my heart for some time that I needed to find a way to honor Jen and her giving spirit. She was kind, generous, and loving – and a light to so many of the lives she touched during her time here.
At the same time, I’ve gotten into running and am training for a Half Marathon (humble-brag alert!) One of the suckiest ways Sarcoma impacted Jen was taking her mobility and independence. She wasn’t a runner, but she loved a good walk with family, our dog Piper, and friends. And more often than not in her last couple of years, the pain won out and kept her from doing so many things she wanted to do. Even just simple things - like going for a walk - became too difficult to bear.
The thought occurred to me that a 5k Run or Walk is 3.1 miles.
Jen’s birthday is March 20 – or if you’ll indulge me……3.20. A 5K-plus, if you will.
The idea formed that like Jen we could go a little further, work a little harder…..we could Fight Like a Mother…..and honor her and raise money to fight Sarcoma (did I mention it sucks?)
Thus we are proud to announce the inaugural Sarcoma Sucks 5k+ the weekend of March 22. Mark your calendars now - registration will open soon. Stay tuned to this space and Facebook and Instagram for more details.
You can participate in-person here in Concord, NC, or virtually to honor Jen and provide much-needed support to fight Sarcoma (in case you don't recall - it sucks).
You can run to set a new PR; you can run for fun; you can walk; you can ride a bike - you can do anything you want. Just do it for 3.20 miles on the weekend of March 22. Take pictures and share them to show you're Fighting Like a Mother! Our family is not unique in the battle that we have faced. There are thousands of others facing these same challenges and difficulties, seeing this insidious disease take away dignity, independence, and often hope from those that are fighting it and those that care for them. But so many others face these battles without the love, support, and resources we’ve been blessed with. They need our help.
I think now is the time we each take a piece of Jen’s light and carry it forward to continue the fight.
This fundraiser will directly support the Sarcoma Community via the Sarcoma Foundation of America, the largest and most visible voice of the fight against Sarcoma. Your donations can help with research that leads to breakthroughs with treatments and trials, or to lift up those impacted by this disease and give them the support that they need.
Sarcoma Sucks, but we can fight it.
Let's be the light for someone else in their darkest time and Stand Up To Sarcoma. Let’s work together to honor Jen and raise funds and awareness, and let’s bring better outcomes to those fighting this disease in the future.
