Extol April-May 2018 | Page 47

KDF MARATHON to help advocate for the race as past participants. For them, spreading the word has always been part of the process, but this gives them an organized way to sing its praises. The marathon also gives participants the opportunity to run for a charity of their choice. Lara MacGregor with Hope Scarves, a charity that sends scarves to women battling cancer, ran the marathon a few times before deciding to start her organization. “I loved the idea of combining health, wellness, facing challenges and supporting our nonprofit organization. After my cancer diagnosis, I shared pictures of runs around the world with the hashtag #outrunningcancer,” MacGregor said. “As a long time runner, I simply love the energy of the race. The excitement at the start, the pushing through when your legs are heavy at mile 10, the last mile when you realize how strong you are. Every outrunning cancer race I run, I’ve cried because each step we take as a team is for something bigger than ourselves. We run for our friends, mothers, wives, sisters. We run for those who can’t and for those who have died of cancer. We run with the hope that the money we raise will lead to more treatment options for people like me living with a terminal illness. We run to feel our heart pound in our chest and feel how alive we truly are. We are outrunning cancer, one step at a time – miles to go, but closer with each step.” RUN FOR A CAUSE FOR YEARS, KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL MARATHON & MINIMARATHON RUNNERS HAVE USED THE RACES AS VEHICLES TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR MANY LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHARITIES. THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION CREATED A COMMITTEE TO HELP OVERSEE THE EFFORTS OF THE CHARITY PROGRAM. FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ASSIGNED AS LIAISONS TO HELP COORDINATE THE FUND-RAISING EFFORTS. SINCE THE ONLINE PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 2005, MORE THAN $2 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED FOR PARTICIPATING LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHARITIES. Benefiting Charities Hope Scarves The Molly Johnson Foundation ALSAC St. Jude House of Ruth The Shamrock Pet Foundation Alzheimer’s Association Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Twisted Pink American Printing House for the Blind Kentucky Animal Relief Fund Uspiritus Bahkita Empowerment Initiative Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana LoveMyJoey Cure CF, Inc. Noah’s Styling Cure SMA Parkinson Support Center Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation Rettsyndrome.org Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) Summit Academy Gilda’s Club The Arrow Fund Girls Rock Louisville The Lord’s Kitchen Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon & miniMarathon Presented by Walmart and Humana 7:30 a.m. April 28 derbyfestivalmarathon.com APRIL/MAY 2018 : EXTOL 45