Room 5K35, Oncology Wing.
5K35 is the hospital room at Providence Medical Center in Portland where I held my mother's hand and watched her take her final breath on earth. It's a place where I witnessed the real pain that cancer can cause people. But, it's also where I witnessed the real strength and hope that people fight back with. And, it's a place I will never forget. 5K35 began as a room, but it's much more than that now... |
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5K35 is a promise.
It's a promise I made to my mom two days before she died - to do whatever I can to help find a cure. She didn't want others to experience what she went through. In a special moment during the last conversation we shared in Room 5K35, she told me with an intense clarity that I couldn't help her anymore. She asked me to continue the fight after she was gone, and I promised I would. 5K35 is a promise I made to personally donate $5,035 to the cause and to try to motivate a small army of 5,035 other people to get involved.
5K35 is a belief.
I believe we can and will find a cure for cancer in my lifetime. Because, I believe there are enough generous and caring people in the world. And, together we can defeat the disease that affects millions of people and the people who love them.
5K35 is a symbol.
It's a symbol that represents one of my mom's greatest strengths: to give a little extra of yourself to help others. It's a symbol you will see on gear we've designed and as a marker
35 meters past the finish line at 5K running events.
5K35 is a distance.
It's a distance that I've programmed into my iPod Nano using Nike+, and it's a distance I try to run five times a week to stay committed to the cause and to always remember the promise I made.
+ Help us achieve the Team 5K35 goals. + Check-out the 5K35 personalized gear.