Why I'm Participating in the Big House 5K: Lisa Callihan
3/8/2018 11:25:00 AM | Features, Community Engagement
The 2018 Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors presented by Toyota on Sunday, April 8, will benefit six local, non-profit organizations selected based on the support they provide to our Washtenaw County community in key areas like housing, healthcare, the arts, youth programming and social services. In the weeks leading up to the race, MGoBlue.com will share stories from people inspired to participate this year because of one of the beneficiaries.
By Lisa Callihan
My name is Lisa Callihan and I am running in the Big House 5K for the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor.
It never occurred to me when I went to the doctor for a routine checkup in 2010 that I would hear the words, "You have cancer." My diagnosis of thyroid cancer left me devastated, scared and very confused. Over the next several years, I quickly learned that cancer impacts everyone around you.
At that time there were no support groups for thyroid cancer in Ann Arbor, so I became a Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association (ThyCa) group facilitator to begin a local meeting. I contacted several organizations in the area searching for a place to meet and discovered the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor (CSC).
My work with the CSC started as a place for my group to meet. This organization quickly began to mean so much more to me. In addition to support, anyone impacted by cancer has access to free educational workshops, healthy lifestyle classes and social activities in a welcoming environment. I started volunteering for more and more programs and the CSC has given me the opportunity to change a devastating diagnosis into something positive.
I do not consider myself a runner and was never really a fan of races, but that all changed last year when I joined Strides for Hope, a half-marathon charity running team organized annually to benefit the people affected by cancer who are served through the CSC. During training, executive director Bonnie Dockham said, "We are running for those who can't." Those words stuck with me and I am proud to say I successfully completed my first race!
I am thrilled to be healthy and cancer free today, running the Big House 5K (relieved it is not another half-marathon!) for those who can't, and raising money to ensure support for anyone who has been impacted by cancer.
About Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor
The mission of the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor (CSC) is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. The CSC is a resource for education, information and a place to gain support -- all in an environment of acceptance and hope. In the local community, special outreach efforts to historically underserved portions of the community have been added -- to ensure all people affected by cancer are effectively served. There are five core programs at the Cancer Support Community: Support, Education, Healthy Lifestyle Activities, Social Events and Resource Connections. All components of CSC programs are provided free of charge and have been shown to improve patient health, mental health and quality of life. CSC programs serve both adults and children, those with cancer and their friends along the cancer continuum from diagnosis to life after cancer, or end of life (and beyond for loved ones). For more information, visit cancersupportannarbor.org.
