I had never felt the unsettling grasp of cancer more tangibly in my life than I did this weekend.
My grandfather fell to cancer when I was very young, and I thank God that the rest of my immediate family has been left unscathed by the disease.
But the disease’s devastation hit me harder when my good friend informed me that his mother had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Watching my normally carefree, easygoing buddy struggle with a new, unwelcome change in his life finally made cancer feel more real to me than just a commercial or a ribbon. His fear, uncertainty and sadness lent a human aspect to the disease that I had not observed before. Staying up sitting with him Friday night, mostly in silence due to my inability to empathize, will forever have an impact on me.
But this weekend, despite this, had its triumphs as well. No, I’m not talking about the Texas Tech game. On Saturday morning, I ran a 5K marathon with a group of about 10 of my friends in San Antonio. The race was held to raise awareness for ovarian cancer, and my group of friends was there to support my roommate’s mother, who had battled and conquered ovarian cancer two years ago.
The atmosphere of the race, in contrast to the night before, was incredibly joyful and moving. The survivors, who were marked by their brightly colored T-shirts, could not have exhibited more happiness or fervor for life. For my friends and me, they served as a testimony to great strength, and being around the families who had been in the fray and come out victorious was simply indescribable.
The race itself, while secondary in importance, was not without its success stories. While the track was likely shorter than an actual 5K, my friends and I were able to run at an impressive pace, especially my friend whose mother we were there to support and my friend whose mother had just been diagnosed. Somehow, my two friends found another source of strength within themselves and sprinted to the finish side by side, placing second and third in the race for their incredible performances. The image of them finishing so strongly will be forever ingrained in my memory.
I have urged readers before to join service organizations or participate in community service to make a difference at a local level. Another great way to leave behind your footprint is to participate in a race for a good cause, especially if you like running.
There are several worthy charities and even more opportunities to run in Austin. Consider this a great way to get in shape while also making a positive impact on the community.
Earnest is a finance junior.
