Sally, Deborah and Jessica may lead very different lives, but they’re sisters under the skin when it comes to their collective battles against cancer. You can join their crusade by signing on for the upcoming Race Against Cancer 2017. From the moment you register, you automatically help raise money for cancer treatment subsidies, welfare assistance, rehabilitation, hospice care, screenings, research, education and support group initiatives.
Sally’s Story:
Sally was about to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary when a cancer diagnosis brought an end to her celebration. Her arduous journey through chemotherapy, radiation and other daunting treatments used to combat her stage 3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma could have caused her to give up, but you don’t know Sally! The former workaholic is now cancer free and her priorities are re-aligned. One of the promises she made to herself will be on display at Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer (RAC) when she runs to help fellow cancer sufferers so they have a fighting chance too.
Deborah’s Story:
Deborah had yet to turn 30 when a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis sidelined her life. After recovering from the shock and a double mastectomy, she returned to her formerly active life with gusto, exclaiming, “Cancer doesn’t define me. I was a runner before cancer, I am still a runner now.” Her current goal? Supporting friends currently fighting their own cancer battles. Would she miss the 2017 RAC? You must be kidding! Deborah will be on that start line showing the same character and fortitude as she has throughout her personal cancer journey: fiercely committed, focused and ready to do her part for Singapore’s Cancer Society.
Jessica’s Story:
Jessica loved running even before she joined Singapore’s running community, but it was a close encounter with breast cancer that cemented her will to live and increased her desire to train more ferociously than in the past. Diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, she was required to undertake just about every cancer-fighting protocol under the sun: surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiation. She never gave up thanks to a strong support system and all of the love in the world from fellow runners. Now a huge advocate for Reach to Recovery support groups, Jessica plans to pay forward every challenge she surmounted at RAC 2017!
About the Race
2017 is the 9th year the RAC is to be held. Over time, it’s become livelier, more heavily attended and better organised since its inception in 2009. Your job? Show up on the morning of the 30th and take your place on any of the start lines that kick off the 5km, 10km or 15km event. Run your heart out for this very special cause.
Scheduled to take place at Angsana Green in East Coast Park, you won’t want to miss a minute — and to reward your previous attendance, if you participated in previous RAC events between 2013 and 2016, you qualify for the reduced loyalty rate, so just being a faithful member of the RAC community earns you extra credibility and a discount on your registration fee.
Good news and bad news
Diagnoses and treatments can be hit or miss depending upon cancer type and how far it’s spread, but the good news is that medical science in this day and age moves like a comet across the sky — faster when unselfish people run for the cause by contributing their time and attention to charity runs like the RAC.
The bad news is that early bird registration has already ended, thus the 9th July deadline for all other registration types is looming! Visit the race website, pick your category and in minutes you’ll be part of Singapore’s Herculean effort to combat this insidious disease.
Next? Make room in your wardrobe for the exclusive running top embellished with the RAC logo that comes with your race pack and pick a place on your wall — the one that displays winning finisher medals (10km and 15km events only) and race bibs. Race pack collection couldn’t be easier. Visit Velocity at Novena Square on either 22nd or 23rd July between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Is there anything else you can do?
You bet. Just because this dynamic race is going to occupy most of your day on 30th July, that doesn’t mean you have to stop advocating for cancer eradication in your lifetime. Join the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), Ministry of Health, National Council of Social Service and Singapore Hospice Council in their collective efforts to make every day a good day to fight cancer.
Stories like those told by Sally, Deborah and Jessica have become part of the human fabric around the globe. Want to read more? Visit here.
Do you have a story to share about yourself, family members or friends who have fought cancer and won? Let’s keep telling those stories until cancer disappears from the face of the earth!
