Running for Hope

Soroptimist International of Cody held their 4th Annual Run for Hope on Saturday, October 6.  The race raises money for the Lainey Cole Memorial Women’s Cancer Fund, named for a Cody Soroptimist who lost her battle with cancer five years ago.  The fund provides assistance to women undergoing cancer treatment.

I’ve wanted to run this race since the first year, four years ago.  I knew Lainey Cole.  I bonded with her when we sang “I Hope You Dance” together at the 2006 Rocky Mountain Region Conference held in Salt Lake City.  It was karaoke night, and when she heard the music start, she told me it was her favorite song.  So I pulled her up on the stage to sing it with me.  The words, so meaningful, were truly heartfelt as they came from her lips.  I still get teary-eyed when I hear it. 

This year was the first I’d had the time to drive the 456 miles to Cody to run the race.   We arrived in Cody at the same time a huge cold front from the north drove temperatures down into the mid-30s.  We woke on the morning of the race to sunny skies and 25 degrees.  Brrrrrrhhh!  Traded the shorts for sweats – I guess I need to break down and buy those cool running pants that the serious runners wear.  By race time it had warmed up into the 30s.  I was given the honor of singing the National Anthem at the starting gate (check another one off the bucket list), and then off we ran. 

While it’s true that as runners we primarily compete with ourselves, there’s something to be said about hearing your name called out to come to the podium to receive your ribbon.  I was pretty excited when they called my name as first place in my age division.  My first 10K and my first win! 

The real winners of the Run for Hope are the Soroptimists of Cody.  At last count they had raised over $11,000 for the Lainey Cole Memorial Women’s Cancer Fund.  Running this race meant a lot to me.  I am honored to have been able to play my small part in such a worthy cause.