It's almost time to run the Maryland Half Marathon!!!!!

For those of you who don't know my story,  I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in September of 2011 when I was 35. After undergoing a colon resection and 8 months (12 rounds of chemo) I considered myself cancer free. At least I thought I was until some routine blood work in the summer of 2013 revealed some unusual numbers. A CAT scan shortly thereafter revealed that indeed the cancer had come back and it had metastisized. I was now looking at another 12 rounds of chemo to fight what was now stage 4 colon cancer - a cancer that can never be cured - just kept at bay. 

When I underwent chemo the first time I felt as though I had put my life on hold and that I would resume living once I was finished. With the knowledge that I would be going  through it all again I decided to approach treatment in a vastly different way and simply keep living. I didn't want to focus on the cancer and the chemo but rather on all the many wonderful things that I had in my life - family, friends, and oddly enough, my health. Before I was redisgnosed I started running with the Cancer to 5K program through the Ulman Cancer Fund and discovered that I loved to run. While going through chemotherapy I continued to run and proudly ran 6.5 miles on an Olypmic relay team as part of the Half Full Triathlon in October 2013 - just 5 days after a grueling round of chemo. 

When treatment ended in February 2014 I made running the MD Half Marathon on May 10, 2014 my goal.

Another goal was to run as a TEAM FIGHT member. It is an honor to run my first Half Marathon not only for myself but for the amazing organization that helped me realize my love of running. 

Please help me to reach my fundraising goal and support the Ulman Cancer Fund!!

Thank you!

Love,

Charlotte