Lily’s Run For a Cause
Lily overcame embryonic undifferentiated liver sarcoma at the age of 5, enduring chemo and surgery to cure her rare and aggressive cancer. She had 11 years to be an awesome, active kid - skiing, biking, running, etc. At age 14, Lily and her mother completed the Oakland Running Festival’s half marathon, and the Escape from Alcatraz duathlon. She was the picture of health and happiness as she applied herself toward her goal of becoming a doctor.
Shortly after Lily began her Junior year of High School, her cancer returned. For 17 months, Lily has endured more than anyone could imagine, with chemo and multiple surgeries to remove tumors, first in the lining of her lung - she lost one lobe of her left lung, forever reducing her lung capacity, and then in her brain. Days after she was cleared to return to school for her senior year, they discovered her cancer had progressed into leptomeningeal cancer (the lining of her brain and spinal cord), which is considered terminal.
With local treatment options exhausted, Lily’s family and friends moved heaven and earth to find potential treatment globally, and after persistent advocation, Lily was accepted into a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She received 3 rounds of treatment, and her condition has improved dramatically. Her scans were actually clear before the third round of treatment! Finally, there is reason for cautious optimism. The young woman sent to hospice has refused to give up!
Lily has missed her entire junior year, and her senior year (to date). She is watching while her very dear friends apply to college and figure out their next major life step. Her resilience, determination, and fortitude are truly amazing. She is working diligently to regain her strength and balance by walking, swimming, and training every day. We are confident this brilliant and compassionate girl will continue her education and her mission to help others.
Lily’s message to those affected by cancer is to never give up. If you are the patient, find the will to continue your fight, and in the words of Nemo, “Just Keep Swimming”. If you love someone battling cancer, keep researching and pushing for treatment options. You can be an incredible advocate for your loved one, and you must be, in addition to the medical team.
Despite all that Lily has experienced and endured, she wants to give back by raising awareness and money for Tyler’s Grace Foundation. Thanks to generous donations, Tyler’s Grace was able to gift Lily a truly memorable 18th birthday celebration in December. We are beyond touched that Lily has chosen to ‘pay it forward’ with us.
Lily’s fundraiser is at the Oakland Running Festival, on March 22, 2020. She previously participated in the 5K and half marathon. Now, her goal is to complete the 5K, at whatever pace she can manage.
Please sign up and donate below. Additional information about Lily’s journey can be found on Instagram @RunTeamLily and Facebook at “Team Lily”.
Please Join Us
You can participate in several ways:
1. Sign up and Race with us!
If you are already registered for the race, please join our race email list so we can keep you up to date. If you are not yet registered, enter your email address to access a discount code. Then, check your email!