To be perfectly honest, I don’t run, I walk. So on March 14th, 2010, I will be walking 13.1 miles in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas ½ Marathon to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. So why do I walk?

In 1995, my doctor ordered a baseline mammogram because I was 40 years old. With no family history, imagine my shock when it revealed an abnormality. Further tests revealed Stage 2 breast cancer. After surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, I knew that I needed to take a personal stand in the war against breast cancer. But what can one person do? Well, personally I can watch what I eat and exercise regularly to help reduce the chance of reoccurrence. And looking at the bigger picture, how can I reach out to other women/men? Well, I started by volunteering with the Central Florida Affiliate for Komen. I became an advocate for this organization because the monies raised are spent on research, education, screening, and treatment in the area of breast health and cancer.

Now I have an even bigger role to fill. In March 2008, I joined the Komen Staff in Dallas as an Affiliate Relationship Manager. This is a dream job for me as I work with Affiliates on a variety of issues. And now I have a wonderful challenge before me, again both personal and with broader implications. Can I get ready to compete in the Dallas ½ Marathon and raise money at the same time? I can answer both of these with an unequivocal YES! Wish me luck; or better yet, join me in this adventure.

Laura Mowrey

Why do I run for Marathon for the Cure? My Mother, Hillary Ripmaster, who lost her battle with breast cancer in November of 2000, loved seeing young people active. Anytime we were riding in a car together and saw someone running she would always comment on how important it was to stay in shape. My mom first saw me run in the Detroit Turkey Trot, which was a 10K race. I was in terrible shape at the time and it was a struggle for me to finish that race. I'll never forget seeing my mother in the crowd towards the finish line. She was crying and yelling, "Go Peter, Go." She was so proud of me for running in that race. I didn't place well and I felt awful after the race but that didn't matter to Hillary! My mom was so proud of me and that felt incredible.

I didn't take to running very well and I didn't run too many more races while my mother was still alive. After fighting breast cancer, HARD, for three years, my beautiful mother lost her battle and passed away on November 22nd, 2000. One of the last days that she was alive, I got the chance to sit down with her, one on one, to tell her how much I was going to miss her. She was my BEST FRIEND and I wanted her to know that I was going to do anything I could, in this lifetime, to beat breast cancer.

After she passed, I went through a terribly tough time. I was sad, mad, depressed and it was next to impossible for me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was so out of shape and had lost my will to fight. I had lost my biggest supporter and my best friend. It wasn't until 2008 that I decided to do something in honor of my mother’s memory!

One fall afternoon in 2008, my grandmother (Hillary's mother) and my sister were in town visiting me and my wife. After an incredible weekend, we finished a leisurely Sunday lunch and my sister and grandmother were ready to head to the airport. We said our goodbye's and my wife Kristen and I headed for our car. When we got in and got settled, I turned to Kristen and said "I'm running a Marathon, TODAY."

Kristen is an incredibly supportive and understanding wife. She could tell from the look in my eyes that I was going to run that race, that day. After eating a light lunch and gearing up, I was ready to go. I chose a route on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, North Carolina. After starting, I had Kristen drive the course to stash water and fruit along the trail. After 2 or 3 miles I saw my wife's car coming back towards me. Kristen said that the road was closed right around the corner and she wasn't going to be able to leave water and fruit for me. Although this seemed like a giant setback, I didn't stop. I ran the next 20 miles with 1 small water bottle. This wasn't such a big deal except for the fact that this homemade marathon course was steep, very steep! As I got to the 13.1 mile turnaround I knew it was going to be a struggle to finish! Dehydrated and very tired, I turned around and headed back down the mountain. I was thinking of my Mom so much at this time that I hardly thought about the shape I was in. If my Mom went through round after round of chemotherapy and radiation, I could finish this marathon!

At about mile 21 I saw my wife waiting for me with a bunch of water and food. I drank as much water as possible and ate some food that seemed to give me instant energy. After a much needed break, I finished my first marathon. The runner’s high I felt when I was done was surreal. As I was lying on my back, I knew one thing; I now had the Marathon bug, big-time!

The following week, after my race, I was telling my 6th grade students about my adventure. I told them that I was proud of my accomplishment but I wanted to do something more. One of my students brought up the idea of running 50 marathons in 50 different states. Although that seemed like a huge task, it seemed like something I could accomplish, over time. I decided to join Marathon for the Cure to see if I could raise money for breast cancer while working towards my goal of running a marathon in every state. Well, that was a little over a year ago and I have run in 13 marathons since that first one. I've raised over $7,000.00 for Marathon for the Cure and I am not stopping anytime soon!
Why do I run for Marathon for the Cure? I run because I can. I run to stay in shape but most importantly, I run to fulfill a promise I made to my Mother, whom I miss like crazy. She would be proud!

--
Peter Ripmaster
Asheville, NC

My Name is Carol Dellinger and I am 47 years old and live in Spokane, Washington. I have run 234 marathons, but most importantly, I am a recent breast cancer survivor! I was diagnosed last October with DCIS and had a complete right breast mastectomy on November 9th, and I chose non reconstruction so I could get back to my active lifestyle more quickly. I am finished with all treatment and am looking forward to celebrating life cancer free! I am ranked 3rd nationwide among women for marathon finishes as there are very few women runners who have finished over 200 marathons. I was the first Northwest woman to reach 200 marathons on June 4, 2006 when I completed the Rock N Roll San Diego Marathon for my monumental 200th marathon finish. I became the youngest female in the United States to reach 200 Marathons as well. I have been running a marathon every 2-4 weeks for the past 18 years and finish them all in the 6 hour range.

I work full time as both a dental assistant and insurance agent. I am a sponsored athlete and have a shoe contract with Saucony shoes, GU Energy Gel/GU2O Hydration Drink, and Wigwam socks. I was featured in the July 2002 issue of Runner’s World magazine and was the November 2006 Northwest Runner of the Month and have been featured in numerous articles in local and nationwide newspapers. I was chosen by Mastercard/Visa as the Washington State Marathon Runner of the Year in 2002.

I have spoken nationwide at various marathons and organizations, motivating people to get fit and lead healthy lifestyles. I am also very active in the local running community, training and speaking to beginning marathon runners. I am also active in the Spokane Police Departments Citizen’s Academy, and volunteer with my local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

I am just an ordinary runner doing something a little more extraordinary than the average women marathon runner. I have a very energetic and likeable personality that everyone enjoys from the minute they meet me. After spending a few minutes talking to me you will be motivated to run a marathon, or become an active individual.

Jason Contreras has been an avid Komen supporter for many years and he is now the team Captain for Sharla Schooley’s Angels at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas half marathon. This is the amazing story of his sister Sharla: the reason he runs.

I am participating for so many of my friends, and family, but the person who especially inspires me every single day, is my sister Sharla Schooley, a survivor.

In 2006, my sister Sharla, who is a survivor and still battling, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer when she was 7 months pregnant with her second son. The only reason why they did the ultrasound that found the cancer was because Sharla insisted they check the lump, and would not accept a NO. She had a lumpectomy while pregnant, but would not even consider chemo or any other treatment until after the baby was born. It is because of her strength that I have a wonderful rambunctious 3 ½ year old nephew named Dane Champ Schooley.

After his birth, Sharla did chemo, and the double mastectomy, and the radiation. The part she hated the most, was being away from her children. She went into remission, and then it came back, and it came back angry…Sharla is now a Stage 4 Survivor, and is making trips to M.D. Anderson for her next step in the process. She has told them to hit her with the kitchen sink, because she has things to do, and a family to raise.

I am participating for the HEROES around us. Look around you at the survivors. These people obviously didn’t choose for this to happen…it just did. And they show us their strength every single day because they choose to fight. And they choose to join us in this fight to rid the world of Breast Cancer.

So to every Woman, Man, and Family, who battle this each and every day, I commend you. I say a prayer that some day very, very soon, we can all stand and rejoice in victory over Breast Cancer.