Last year my running buddies and I committed to running the 2025 Eugene marathon. My husband, Jim (aka, Jamie) had accompanied me on several of these trips, serving as chief race-day driver and cheerer. This time he decided to train to run the half marathon in Eugene, and he submitted his registration in August. Jim and I shared a long history of marathoning as after we met, and before we had our two now adult sons, I ran nine full marathons. He accompanied me to nearly all of them, meeting me along the course. We even ran the Birmingham marathon together one year, where we each ran two five-mile legs, and I finished it off with the final 6.2 miles. We nearly broke 4 hours that year!!

In September of last year Jim was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. Despite having his cancer-laden lymph nodes removed in October, the cancer spread to his lungs and Jim died on November 30th.

The idea of traveling to Eugene to run the marathon without Jim left me numb. Then my brother Christopher, who ran the Atlanta marathon with me many years ago, told me he would run the half in Jim's place, and run it as a fundraiser for melanoma research. This offer, and the idea of using this opportunity to raise money to fight melanoma, is the primary motivation for finishing the Eugene marathon, in spite of losing Jim.

The MRF is the largest independent organization devoted to melanoma, supporting innovative research, educating patients and physicians and advocating for those impacted by melanoma. Every dollar raised supports advancements that bring hope to patients and their families.

Please consider making a donation and help me reach my goal. Melanoma is an aggressive and deadly cancer, and your donation can make a difference in someone's life.

No matter if you give or not, if you have not seen your dermatologist in the last year, make an appointment today! Jim was full-blooded Lebanese with olive skin, yet the source of his cancer was a dark spot smaller than a quarter on his back. And despite it being removed soon after it was noticed, the cancer entered his bloodstream and stayed undetected for a year and a half. Please don't let this be your story.

In great appreciation, Laura