WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — There was no amount of rain Mother Nature could've poured onto Freedom Plaza Sunday morning that would've kept thousands from showing up to the 27th annual Race for Hope DC, according to race chair Jonathan Weinburg.
"Rain doesn’t matter," he explained, "our folks turn out to be there for each other and to support each other and continue this fight."
Northwest, D.C. native Karen Turner was among those thousands, and she's come to every race since she was diagnosed with glioblastoma in December 2011. She said she had surgery the day after her diagnosis to remove the tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. She is now cancer-free and has beat the odds. Only 1% of those diagnosed with the disease live for more than ten years.
"So, I'm a miracle," she said proudly.
Now, she feels a responsibility to be there for those going through the same challenges she did.
"I always like to say – when life gives you lemons, make lemon pound cake," she explained, "I wanted to make something positive happen from this experience."
Part of her journey now is advocacy for more research dollars, especially for women of color.
"Our brain tumors and our brain cancer don’t get a lot of attention on Capitol Hill," she explained, "this is not just the disease of Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Beau Biden. This disease kills Black women, Hispanic women, Latina women. My cousin Robin James passed away from glioblastoma, Black woman, at age 56."
Turner isn't alone. This type of cancer affects people of all ages and backgrounds, like American Idol Season 7 winner David Cook. He lost his older brother Adam to brain cancer on May 2, 2009. The following morning, Adam spoke at that year's Race for Hope DC.
"This is easily the greatest thing I've ever been a part of," he said, "every dollar that gets us closer to a cure is the most important dollar we can get."
Weinberg agrees. He got involved in the organization because his dad passed away from brain cancer about two decades ago, so now, he's made research for brain tumors his life's mission.
"If you look in the last five years, the science is accelerating at an incredibly important and rapid pace," he explained, "we feel like there are some real important breakthrough and we need to keep those dollars coming in and those cures will be right behind us."
For more information on the Race for Hope DC, click here.
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