A Daughter's Devotion -- Forever Running in Love and Honor of Her Dear Dad

Janet H

In 1999, I got the coveted NYC Marathon entry. While running the Grete's Great Gallop Half Marathon, a woman approached me at approximately Mile 7 and asked if I had heard of Fred's Team. "No, I have not," I replied. By the end of the 13.1, she had a new runner/fundraiser on her team.

In March 1997, I had lost my Dad, Marlo Hanson to lung cancer. To see him suffer the physical and mental pain that cancer causes is awful.  He was 67, in great shape both physically and mentally and always very positive. The cancer spread so fast in spite of the radiation and chemotherapy. What a terrible and painful illness for such a wonderful man to endure.



Marlo Hanson

I was still very angry in 1999. The loss caused me to age and grow up more than any other life event.

NYC would be my second marathon and my first fundraising project. I had to remember my Girl Scout marketing skills. I had to raise $1,200 by November 1. It was Oct 1. I did it.

Then came the marathon. My Mom and sisters came up from Florida to support me. After the race, we had a party. They brought a cake in the shape of 26.2, purple and orange flowers ( Fred's Team colors at the time) and gifts. As I opened the largest gift,a very strong emotion came over me, I had goose bumps before I even had it completely opened.

It was a poster-size, hand-painted picture of Pheidippides, with the words "Marathon Runner" below and "Marlo H. 5th grade" in the right-hand corner. My Mom had found this in my Dad's belongings only two weeks prior to the marathon. She had it framed and wrapped it up.

Dad's Painting

In 36 years of marriage, my Mom had never seen this painting.
I felt my Dad, saying from Heaven.
"You did good kid, I'm really proud."
Tears came streaming down.

There is no marathon like the NYC Marathon.  The course, the crowds, the support, running by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at Mile 17, with the kids who are able watching on, giving them high fives, yelling "This is for you!" to them and making them smile.

Janet H at her Fred's Team Booth
NY Flyers Multisport Carnival
(Organized by Heather M, August 2006)

How dare I say I'm hurting when I think, phew, 10 to go.
And who knows, maybe this will be the year of a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
I would love to be a part.

For the past 12 years, I have never used a Fred's Team number. I feel I have to earn it via the NYRR nine qualifying races and one volunteer gig.  Then I can sign up for Fred's Team.

[Blogmaster's Note: Janet didn't ask to use her blog posting to draw attention to her fundraising site.  However, I anticipate that Flyer folks may want to take a look and perhaps contribute, so to do that please just click HERE.  -Dave K]

Happy Trails,
Janet