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Why I Run: For all the survivors of ovarian cancer

At the beginning of August 2013, I heard three words that I thought would never come out of my mom's mouth, "I have cancer." That day, my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. I had lost my Nana to ovarian cancer five years prior but never imagined that my mom would be diagnosed.

Two weeks after her diagnosis, I had to drive an hour and a half away to start my freshmen year of college at Penn State. Leaving her was the hardest thing I had to do in my life, but I knew that she would be surrounded by friends and family to help her through these tough times.

My mom is currently undergoing her sixth regimen of treatment. It has been a long fight but thanks to continued research, she is on a new drug. As always, we are staying positive. She continues to fight and is the strongest women I know. I am proud to call her my mom.

Two years after her diagnosis, my familysigned up for our first Sandy Sprint, benefitting the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. That day we woke up at 4 a.m. to drive from Harrisburg to Philadelphia to run the 5K race. I ran with my older sister, Sarah, while my mom cheered us on from the sidelines. We were running for my mom, for my nana, and for all the amazing survivors we had met.

Through the foundation, I have met so many strong women who have changed my life and continue to inspire me everyday. I now run the Sandy Sprint every year so that one day we can run in celebration of a cure!

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