Editor’s note: Leslie Estelle graduated from Fairfield in 2005 and is currently accompanying Christian McEvoy on his run across America.
I am one of the two documentary filmmakers on the road with Christian McEvoy ’04, who is running the 3,500 miles from the Pacific to the Atlantic to raise funds and awareness for cancer survivors.
Christian reached his halfway point in Smith Center, Kansas this past weekend with a 40-mile day. That’s right, a 40-mile day.
I remember first getting wind of Christian’s run through an e-mail from a professor and thinking, “how absurd, a run across the country.” Absurdity, I’ve clearly gotten over, or rather better understand, as I write from Kansas.
I can’t remember exactly when I went from thinking, “I wonder if that guy will make it,” to saying to him, “yes, I’ll help you raise $1 million for cancer survivors,”, but I’m certain that I’ll spend the rest of my life thanking God that I came to that epiphany.
There is a phenomenal thing happening out here on the road- one that I eagerly call home to talk about often but am rarely able to put into words. I believe that I come closest when I speak of the survivors our team has met and share the stories that Kristen Coleman ’06 and I have been documenting.
One such survivor is John Cabrera, the youngest of six runners in his family. Challenge and endurance took on new meaning for the Cabreras when John was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 11. He was forced to enter a race that would prove his hardest yet: the race for his life. Cancer, surgeries and harsh treatment left John unable to do much, let alone run.
With what his family attributes to a combination of great doctors and a lot of prayer and support, 15-year-old John beat the odds and is currently living cancer-free. He recently ran a personal best in a cross-country meet and ran his farthest distance of 9.2 miles with Christian the following day. This kid is simply remarkable.
Every survivor we’ve met has been blindsided by his or her diagnosis. They’re busy being kids like John, or new mothers like Kathy, or teachers like Gaye, or new home owning husbands like Dave, or aspiring filmmakers like Howard. And the list goes on.
I strongly encourage you to visit our website at coasttocoastrun.org and get involved. Anyone that would like to join Christian for a portion of his run through Connecticut in early December can also register there. Students and faculty are welcomed to contact me with any questions at leslie@coasttocoastrun.org.
With one out of every three people being diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, I think we’re all called to seem a little absurd in our efforts to raise awareness.
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