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By Jen Slayden
Last spring, I sat outside Bernice’s Bakery drinking coffee and chatting with my good friend Angie. Angie was on the planning committee for Relay for Life and although very enthusiastic about the mission of Relay, she wished she was raising money specifically for the cancer that she had been living with since 2006.
Angie has a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, or GIST for short. As we sat there talking an idea hatched. Oregon Health Sciences University, a facility directly involved in GIST research, is in Portland where I had run my second marathon in 2008. Somewhere along the line of conversation, we agreed I could run again and raise a little money. She could walk and hope to portray a healthy mom to her three beautiful daughters who had seen mom sick for too long. It would also give her a break from dealing with cancer and let her rejoin the “world of the healthy people”.
When she got home, Angie posted an update on Facebook about our decision. Soon, curious friends from the Bozeman Senior High class of ’86 responded. One friend, Gail, sealed the deal hours later by posting that she had officially registered for Portland. Within a week we had a group of long lost classmates who wanted to walk or run the marathon. Later, we added another Missoula mom who is a mutual friend. Our group includes a dentist, a musician, a Spanish teacher, an administrator, a stay-at-home mom, a landscaper, a life coach and more. Five of us are moms, so we don’t need to mention all the other hats we wear every day! We share a common goal: to walk/run or support a marathon, raise money for cancer research and grow in mind, body and spirit.
Training takes time and dedication, and family and friends stepped up the support to ensure our success during the long process of training. My kids often joined me for runs on their bikes, carrying water and words of encouragement! My sister-in-law who is a family practitioner and mom is our medical advisor.
Our group has laughed, cried and hugged via teleclass, email, Facebook and phone calls. Our journey has been humbling, humorous, enlightening and motivational. Unfortunately in that time we have also had major setbacks. Angie’s plans to “rejoin the world of the healthy” changed when more tumors were discovered. The drug that had kept her cancer under control for three years stopped working. In early August, surgeons removed several small tumors — exactly two months before the marathon.
There is sadness that Angie cannot walk this year, but she will still join us for the trip to Portland. Perhaps with the help of donations we can ensure she will walk next year. A targeted therapy developed at Oregon Health Sciences University gave her three additional years but it was not a cure and she developed resistance as many do. It will take additional drugs to keep her here for our future marathons.
Many of us will meet again for the first time after 23 years, as much more than friends. We are comrades, warriors against cancer, and seekers of living life to the fullest. Through all the challenges and unexpected surprises we have had each other.
Who would have thought? A cup of joe and Facebook opened up a whole new door of friendship, love and support. I can’t wait to see my dear friends in two weeks. This time face to face!
Life Lesson? Nothing in life is a coincidental. People you encounter, opportunities and challenges that arise are all meant to be used for a higher purpose. Life is your marathon…….live it!
Want to donate? You can donate online here. You can donate in honor of Angie Adams or the Portland Marathon Group.
Jen Slayden is a Certified Life Coach, Educator, avid runner and musician. She helps women tune into their creative side to live for today and believe in tomorrow. Jen is married and has three children and a Marley-type dog. Quality family time is always a priority. When combined with life coaching, marathon training, working with the Center for Music by People with Disabilities, and teaching cello lessons, it’s safe to say that Jen leads a full, busy life. “I dwell in the simple pleasures of life to keep me balanced and healthy.” In her spare time she plays music with her children and niece in their family band “Blue Mountain Music Makers”. Read more about Jen and Life Coaching at www.bigskylifecoach.com .
What a wonderful story and event to support! All the best to each of you tomorrow.
Jenny’s proud sister, Kati
Thank you everyone for the massive support for this marathon! Everyone of the crew finished, and Angie actually joined us and completed the 10K, exactly 2months after her surgery!!
What a huge accomplishment!
The Portland group was sore, but they all SOARED!