In recognition of Evansville’s Race for the Cure, which is coming up on September 21, 2002, our spotlight this month is on GERWC member Catherine Simmons, a 2-1/2 year breast cancer survivor.  Catherine is taking part in the SuperSTAR’s training for this year’s race.

Catherine’s successes began long before her history as a survivor.  She smoked for over ten years and, when she quit, began a walk/run program that eventually progressed to total running.  She currently runs about four times a week, and supplements this with weight training and step classes.  Catherine participates in many local races from 1-mile to 15K, and has finished several half-marathons, as well.  She particularly enjoyed running Disney’s half-marathon in 2001 with her sister and brother-in-law!

In addition to this year’s Race for the Cure, Catherine is looking forward to the YMCA Series races.  “I find that increasing the distance each race and having the commitment to finish all three races is challenging,” she says.  She has placed in her age division for the overall series twice!

Although she missed Evansville’s first Race for the Cure, Catherine has participated every year since.  However, when she ran it the first time, she had no idea she’d participate again the following year—wearing a pink survivor’s shirt.  Addressing the emotional aspects of being a survivor at the race, Catherine notes, “My emotions on race day run so strong that sometimes it’s a relief to finally get to the start of the actual race!”

Asked if she has any advice for fellow runners, she replies, “Oh, yes!  I know that mammograms are not the only way to detect breast cancer.  I have no family history of breast cancer.  No one can tell me when I might have felt a lump if I hadn’t had my mammogram.  I was just doing what I could to take care of myself.  If there are ladies out there who have not had an exam, for whatever reasons, PLEASE schedule one today.  You never know—it could save your life.”