BROCKPORT, N.Y.—Senior
Lauren Bates has always been around athletics. Playing soccer, running on the track and field team, and it wasn't long before she fell in love with distance running. She started running for The College at Brockport her sophomore year and created important bonds with her teammates on the cross country and track team.
Bates found the importance of athletics and community early in her running career after her friend and fellow soccer player, Courtney Wagner, was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. Courtney was a freshman in high school and had an original prognosis of four months, but lived another four years.
"I never heard her complain about her situation," said Bates. "She always had a positive outlook and was a fighter. She continued to play soccer and basketball."
Wagner was not the only person in Lauren's life that was impacted by cancer. Three months after the diagnosis of her childhood friend, Bates' track and field coach was diagnosed with stomach cancer and passed away later that year.
"This was the first time I really saw the importance of community and the impact it can have on a team," commented Bates. "That year was the first time our school won sectionals."
The impact of cancer on some of Bates closest friends and influencers is what led her to join the 4k for Cancer run. The event will raise money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The voyage will be a 49-day, 4,000+ mile journey from San Francisco to Boston. The run is a relay style, with a team that covers anywhere from 100 to 160 miles a day in groups of two. Bates was named the trainer of the team as she hopes to use this experience for her exercise science internship so she will have more responsibilities. As she prepares for this event, Bates had something impact her life that made this cause that much more important.
"My grandpa was recently diagnosed with lung cancer," stated Bates. "It has been tough, but I like to use running as an outlet because it is something that I can control and it makes this that much more special for me."
The 4k for cancer is more than just a run however, as the group will be participating in a variety of service projects in the cities they visit. The team will look to run with cancer survivors, visit local hospitals and will select three cancer survivors that will get college scholarships.
"The purpose of this run is to spread hope and inspiration to those effected by cancer," expressed Bates.
Bates, in addition, will host a 4,000-meter walk/run in the Special Events and Recreation Center (SERC) indoor track, on March 25th. There will be a food truck, a variety of crafts and a raffle, all in an effort to raise funds for Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Bates has witnessed the positive effects of athletics on those impacted by cancer, and she hopes to make an difference doing what she loves to do, run.
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