Welcome family, friends, and loved ones,

So it has been a journey. And surprise! Even after running the 13.1 miles it feels like it's just the beginning. I've been struggling with a way to express how I feel about the entire process and everything that has gone on from the day I joined team in training, to the first practice, through the event itself, and what is going on today. I figure the best way to stay coherent is to keep it organized in a way that has kept me organized the past few months: mileage markers. A big thank you in advance, and when you have a moment please take the time to read the 13.1 mileage markers of this journey that we all shared.

Mile 1 – literally running one mile is a difficult task when you haven’t run in a long time. Make that a long, long, LONG, time. The physical aspect of this endeavor for me was a challenge from the beginning that I thought I was ready to face. In the end I succeeded. I will admit to an injury at one point during the season and some days where it was really dreadfully difficult to get out of bed at 6am and want to run 8 miles. However, I completed the race. I ran 13.1 miles and I did it in 2 hours and 35 minutes and 24 seconds. Yes, seconds make a difference. I averaged between 11 and 12 minutes a mile throughout the course. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m looking forward to beating my time at next year’s event. So, that’s the physical round up and many of you are saying, ok, well there’s 12.1 more miles, what is she going to talk about? Well, let me assure you. Running a half marathon was not about the running. Keep reading and you’ll see why.

Mile 2 – You are all receiving this letter because you have helped me on my journey; whether that’s financially or in one of the gazillion other ways. You are special to me and I appreciate your genuine goodness. I am very proud to share with you that with your help I was the 3rd highest fundraiser for Team in Training for this event, personally raising over $8,600. Also that Team in Training raised over $500,000 for support, research, treatment, and cure in this event alone. Moreover, the Leukemia and Lymphoma society has hit their $1,000,000,000 (yes, that is one billion) mark of how much they have donated to the cause since their initial founding in 1946. You are a huge part of that! Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

Mile 3 – Along this road, I got to meet an amazing little man who celebrated a big number of his own, his 3rd birthday. Alexander Wright-Hays was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan Anemia, a rare blood disease, when he was only 3 months old, and he has now with the help of some amazing doctors, treatments that were researched and funded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and with a lot of love, prayer, and support of family and friends, living life as a happy and healthy 3 year old!

Mile 4 – It was a great joy of mine to be able to cross the finish line of the race and have Mr. Alex there to run with me and give me a big hug at the end. He was able to go with his family to Disneyland to celebrate his life and love. It’s so important for us to celebrate how much we have done and even every birthday we have. I know some of you out there are shaking your heads and thinking, I’m too old to celebrate. No, it’s not true. We are given this gift of life and to celebrate that everyday and even take a special day to throw a party, get some cake, or even go to Disneyland is something we earn. Celebrating with those around us is something magical.

Mile 5 – I did suffer and injury to my hips and knees while training. It was devastating to not be able to run and having to alter my day-to-day activities because of something happening in my body that I felt I had no control over. It was also very humbling as I found out right around the same time that my own sister had an injury. While she was cancer free, she was suffering from the effects of all the treatment she had been through. Her right hip was wasting away from a vascular hip necrosis, and at the tender age of 21 she was facing a total hip replacement. It went from uncomfortable to downright painful. She fought through it. I thought my situation was unfortunate in not being able to run and train as much as I usually did, and here she was going from walking slowly to using crutches to a walker, and ultimately a wheel chair.

Mile 6 – Thankfully we were both able to take a much needed rest and recuperation time. This really served as a reflection for me on everything that had happened so far. I was so blessed, hurt and all, to be where I was and have those people around me that loved and supported me, and to be able to give love and support back. Emily had a chance to travel outside of California for the first time since she was diagnosed on her 18th birthday, talk about a belated present. She embraced the vacation, pain and injury and all, and came out happy and rested, and primed for the next step. It was time for her surgery.

Mile 7 – When running you’re focusing on time. Time is a huge factor. So often I would hear people say, “I had a terrible run, I didn’t run fast enough, my time was awful.” I had days when I would think this way, but then remember, it’s not about the time, it’s about the journey and time we spend working towards something we love. It may sound cliché, but the funny thing is that once I stopped focusing on my time and just enjoyed what I was doing, my times got better. We all have a limited amount of time on this earth and don’t really know when the end is. Sometimes in the worst of cases, a doctor will tell us we have mere days, but the Universe also has plans. Enjoying the life we have and what we do in that life and not fixating on the actual time, is a difficult lesson to learn, but powerful once you do.

Mile 8 – There were times on this journey that for me, I just didn’t want to run anymore. I’d feel good, but then I’d get injured. Or I’d feel tired, like it was taking up too much time. Or even as I’d be running there would come that mile 8 that made me just want to stop. Here I have to credit my honored teammates Emily, Alex, and Brian whose strength in their journey gave me strength too. If they can continue to go on day in and day out, I can sure run another mile or two. Breaking through that wall in all aspects of our life is a seemingly daunting task, but one that we can get through.

Mile 9 – Speaking of an honored teammate, I need to take a few miles now to talk about Mr. Brian Loughman. Brian was one of the brightest, most genuine people that I have ever known. His life light shown so magnificently you couldn’t be but a moth to the flame. The even more amazing part about this is that his light never outshone anyone else’s, but enhanced it and allowed them to step into his light, life, and love and share with him. Brian was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma December 14 of 2009. He had just graduated college, found an amazing job, and was off to start his way in the world. I remember when Brian was first diagnosed and going to visit him at his house. For all that was going on with him physically, there was nothing but sunshine when you were in his presence. We talked and joked around and shared stories. It was difficult to believe that he was as sick as he was. Throughout the entire course of his treatment he remained the same. While physically changes happened to his body, mentally, emotionally, spiritually he was Brian and was going to stay that way. It was one of the most inspirational times in my life.

Mile 10 – Unfortunately, at 3:20am on Friday, September 3, Brian passed away. He was surrounded by family, light, love, and was still able to keep his signature joy and human spirit until the end. The grief that I have personally for losing someone like this in my life is something I thought I’d never overcome. I am to this day saddened when I think about it, and crying as I write this to you. As Brian’s father Gerry very eloquently put in his remarks at Brian’s memorial, “At an age when we should be thinking about weddings and grandchildren, instead we have been planning a funeral.” Cancer, whether it’s melanoma or Leukemia and lymphoma, affects us all. Sadly it has too many of us planning funerals instead of other joyous occasion. It needs to be stopped.

Mile 11 – How does anyone get through this? It’s sadness and a loss beyond comprehension. For me, that is when community comes into play; family, friends, everyone rallied around the Loughman family. Through food, prayer, love, and simple time spent together, the healing process began. I feel so fortunate and thankful that every one of you has rallied around me and in doing so also been there for the Loughman family. By coming together we are creating a community that says it’s not ok for anyone’s life to be affected or taken away by cancer. We are all helping to put an end to this disease.

Mile 12 – As race time approached, which was only a few days after Brian had passed and Emily had gone through her full hip replacement surgery, I was about as lost as one could be. Why was I still running? And then it hit me that this feeling, what I was experiencing, and the challenges those I love around me were facing were the exact reasons I was running all along. These were the reasons that everyone has come together to support the efforts of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: to find a cure and make a change. The day of the race was intimidating, but I had a secret weapon. I had with me Brian, Emily and Alex. There was no mile 8 for me during the race because Brian was there running with me and using his big giant angel wings to help me glide through. Through other times of the race when I would feel a little cramp in my hip, and Emily the strong now bionic woman was there to take away that pain. And running across that finish line, I had Alex there to run for me with childlike glee and enthusiasm.

Mile 13 – I went into this project thinking it was going to be a great way to get in shape and help a good cause along the way. What I realized is it’s not about the running or getting in shape, that was a nice side benefit. I am fortunate to be able to help the cause along the way, but really it’s not even about that. It’s about life. Life is a celebration and a journey in which we all get to take part. We all get to come together and enjoy what it brings. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the joy in a situation that seems void of happiness and anything to celebrate. How do you comprehend, let alone celebrate, when someone your own age passes away? To be honest it is still something with which I’m struggling, but I know now the community of people and support that we all have to help us through difficult times and lift us up to enjoy the good ones even more, is so much fuller than I ever first thought. I realized that completing the half marathon was not the end but only the beginning and one stop along the way of this incredible life journey.

Mile .1 – One of the last things that Brian said to his family was “What can I do to thank everyone who’s been there for us these past months?” It is such a selfless and remarkable question from someone who was faced with the end of his physical journey. It of course makes me think what can I do to thank everyone who has been there for me in these past months? I can send you this letter and share with you my thoughts and experiences. I can share the big realization for me that while the half marathon may be completed, the finish line has yet to be crossed. There is not a cure for cancer. This race will never be completely done until we cross that final finish line and are able to find a cure to this disease that has taken too many lives and too much time from the ones that we love. I thank you all for your support and encourage you to please join me in continuing to fight through these tough miles ahead. Let’s be proud and celebrate our accomplishments, but let’s not lose sight of what brought us to this point. I plan on running this event again and will ask for your support again. I hope you join me. However, until then, please think about how you are running your life marathon. What you can do every day in your journey? This life is a one-time event in which we are all trying to get our best times. Help those who are running with you. Support the ones you love. Take time to celebrate the milestones no matter how big or small. We only get to run this one once, so let’s make it count! Become a warrior in your own life! Choose to make your actions count! Be grateful and loving for every moment!

BE THE CURE!!!

With Love and Gratitude always,

Courtney Harper

To read Emily Kate's story in full and to receive updates please visit:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilykate

To read Alexander's story in full and to receive updates please visit:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexanderhays

To read Brian's story in full please visit

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brianloughman