Many people don’t consider running a privilege. For them, it is nothing
more than a part of a routine. But what they fail to realize is how amazing the
simple act of running is. Just to stand takes more than 54 muscles, and running
activates nearly every muscle in the body. Frankly, just waking up every day is
incredible. Running is more than a simple evolutionary tool. It is an expression
of life and health, something that many, unfortunately, cannot enjoy. Ryan
Kishbaugh understood this, and he wanted others to understand it, too.
Ryan’s Reindeer Run, a family-friendly 5K scheduled for Dec. 15, is a
fundraiser for the Ryan P. Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation and a celebration
of Ryan’s life. The slogan for the event is “Run because you can.” It was taken
from the title of the book published by Kishbaugh, the namesake of the event.
Many people look forward to the run every year as a way of kicking off the
holiday season for their families, some even run together as a group. For many
children this is the fi rst 5K in which
they participate. It is fun because a lot
of people dress in costumes, and Santa
is there to hand out awards. Instead of
regular medals, the awards are actually
Christmas ornaments and the trophies
are all reindeer themed. All participants
under the age of 13 receive a finishers
certificate and award as well.
“The event has grown tremendously
since it began in 2006. The first year
274 runners registered and net proceeds
were $7,240.65. Last year, in 2011,
880 runners registered and net proceeds
were $18,062.04,” said Ryan’s mom,
event coordinator Roberta Humphries.
“The money goes to various
organizations that support children and
people dealing with the diagnosis of
cancer. The following organizations
have benefited from proceeds raised
through the Foundation: Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society, Better
Health, The CARE Clinic, Fayetteville
Academy Writing Center, Make a
Wish Foundation, The Child Advocacy
Center, The Marrow Foundation,
Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit
and Friends of the Cancer Center at
CFVHS. Overall more than $83,000 has
been given to organizations since the
foundation was begun in 2003.”
Kishbaugh was a high school senior
when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Before the diagnosis, he was extremely
successful in many aspects of his
life. He was a varsity athlete, and recognized as a dedicated and tremendous
volunteer. It was after his diagnosis that he truly began to shine, however.
Kishbaugh’s life was cut short, but he made more of a difference in his short life
than many will make in several decades.
In the face of his greatest challenge, Kishbaugh maintained a positive outlook
and wrote the book Run Because You Can: My Personal Race With Cancer,
which details his struggle with the disease. Unfortunately, Kishbaugh passed
away at the age of 18 due to complications from a bone marrow transplant, but
his words live on.
“If you, at any point in your life, have changed somebody’s life, if you have made
a difference in their life, in the world, then your life has been a success. People so
often forget that money can buy everything except happiness. How did you make a
difference today? What have you done to help a stranger this week? The answers
to these questions are what truly matter in life, whether we realize that now or not.
Life is so often overlooked, taken for granted, expected. Carpe diem. Learn to live
in the moment, for that is all we have in our grasp. Take it upon yourself to go out
and change the world for the better, and do it today,” is an excerpt from Kishbaugh’s
book. It was written to be a positive infl uence on other people’s lives; an inspiration
and a comfort for those facing similar challenges. The book covers 15 months of
Kishbaugh’s struggle and is a beacon of hope and positivity.
This book is not all that Kishbaugh left behind. After he passed away his mother began Ryan’s Reindeer Run in his honor, to celebrate his life and raise money to help
others who are facing the same challenges he endured. All proceeds of this fundraiser
go directly to the Ryan’s Foundation which is dedicated to providing services to
children cancer patients.
“The most rewarding part is being able to raise funds in Ryan’s memory and allow
him to continue making a difference in the world through this event done in his
memory,” said Humphries. “I also love to see Ryan’s friends who come back to run,
now some of them with their children. When hospitalized in June 2002 Ryan wrote: ‘I
don’t want anything more from this life than to know that when I die I made it better
for just one other person. Just one. …I just want to reach someone, if only one, let me
reach one person. I have to make a difference. I have to make things better, not for
me, but for those who really suffer.’”
The run begins and ends at the Medical
Arts Pharmacy parking lot entrance, which
is located at 101 Robeson St. Packet
pick-up is the evening before the race, on
Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Breezewood
Healthcare, 200 Forsythe St. A waiver
is required in order to run the race. The
waiver and registration are also available
online at www.runbecauseyoucan.com/
run.html. For individual participants there
is $25 entry fee. The group and family
entry fee is $75 and includes four T-shirts.
There must be a minimum of three
participants to qualify for family registry
and a maximum of six. Groups should
include the organization’s name on their
entry form, and there must be a minimum
of six participants to be considered a
group. Registration forms must be received
by Nov. 30, to guarantee a T-shirt and
reindeer ears. T-shirts run out quickly.
Online registration ends on Dec. 13, at
9 p.m. PST. Packet pick-up and race day
registration begin at 7 a.m. The 5K race
begins at 8:30 a.m. and awards will be
presented at 9:30 a.m
Officials ask participants to remember
that runners under 13 are free if they are
running with a participating adult, but this
does not include a T-shirt or timing bid.
Runners under 13 who wish to be timed
and eligible for the under 13 top three male
and female medals must be registered to
compete. Pets on leashes are allowed, but
must be controlled at all times, including
waste clean up by the owner. Runners with pets may be asked to leave if the pets are
causing a disturbance. Walkers, non-competitive runners with pets and strollers are
requested to start in the back of the group.
People that attend should expect a fun but challenging run. “I would like the public
to know that this is a fun event for the entire family but it is also a very challenging
run for the competitive runners,” said Humphries. “Walkers are also welcome to
participate.”
It is a great day to come out and “run because you can.” People who want to walk
the course are also welcome to participate. Prizes are also available for the overall male
and female fi nisher, first- through third-place fi nishers in various age groups, prizes
for the best-costumed runners, best-costumed group, runners with strollers, runners
with pets and the best-decorated strollers. This year there will be prizes for the runner
with the best holiday sweater.
People can also support the foundation without running by
volunteering at the event, donating prizes or making fi nancial
contributions. To volunteer, contact
Humphries at robertahumprhies@nc.rr.com
Visit www.runbecauseyoucan.com or
active.com to learn more about this event.
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