Her laces are tied and the mileage counter is clicking away for Betsy Cunningham, a 45-year-old mother of two who says she has never been a runner but will be.
Not because she wanted to prove anything to anybody or wear a medal around her neck. This resident of Maryville is running the race of her life this spring to honor the precious lives of her sister and husband, cancer survivors. Bonnie Webb was diagnosed with breast cancer over six years ago at the age of 34 and underwent six months of chemotherapy and reconstruction surgery. Charlie Cunningham fought his battle with cancer and is still winning 16 years later.
Betsy, the director of human resources for Blount County, has partnered up with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program that is helping her get ready to run the half-marathon in Nashville on April 25. The program provides her and the other team members with a coach to map out a training schedule, clinics on nutrition, equipment and injury prevention, weekly group training sessions and a team captain who offers plenty of support along the way.
Part of the program involves raising money for the L&L Society's mission of funding research to fight these blood cancers and raising awareness.
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