Running for a Cause

My next race is planned to be the Cancer Center 10k in Montecito, CA on Sunday October 19. This will culminate my 3 month's training with the FIRST 10k program. My family has been dealing with cancer for the past few months ourselves, as my father was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in August. It has been difficult for us, and we were very lucky to find a hopeful diagnosis for this very aggressive cancer with the Angeles Clinic in Los Angeles. In fact my father has just completed his first round of biochemotherapy, and handled it very well.

The Cancer Center 10k benefits the Santa Barbara Cancer Center. My father was unable to find the specialized treatment he needs here in Santa Barbara, and we are again lucky that he has the money and personal resources he needed to find such a specialized treatment. This just highlights to me the need to support cancer research, to make resources available to more people in more places.

I took the leap of faith and signed up today for the 'fundraising option' which requires me to raise $100 in donations for the center for my race. I am really stoked to be to use my training to get people excited about supporting an important cause. I am excited to do my little part to help all the people who are going through the cancer experience themselves -- it seems to touch almost every family these days.

My goal for the race (besides raising some money) is to run under 41 minutes -- an ambitious goal for my first 10k, but my recent race and training results indicate I should be able to pull it off. If anyone would like to donate to the cause, please click the link above, select "Support a Participant", and enter my name, Gary Dempster. Wish me luck!