Teresa Lawler will attempt her first-ever half marathon as part of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon event Dec. 5. Lawler completed the 5K last year.

Local woman takes on half marathon to benefit cancer research

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Teresa Lawler is a St. Jude Hero.

At least, she was last year, and she plans to be again for 2015.

As Lawler explains it, she’s always supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a facility focused on childhood cancer and other catastrophic childhood illnesses that does not charge families for treatment. But the experiences of a few people made her want to do more. She became motivated after hearing the story of local Karley Welborn, who has been treated at St. Jude, whose story she heard through a co-worker. Karley a PCHS student, now in remission, was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma last year.

“I just wanted to do something that would make a difference,” Lawler said.

So in 2014 Lawler ran the 5K portion of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. Actually, she had also signed up in 2013, but that was the year the race was canceled because of icy conditions.

Held in December of each year, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon has been one of the hospital’s key fundraisers since 2002. This year, races will be held Dec. 5.

“In one day they have a 5K, half marathon, marathon and marathon relay,” Lawler said. “It’s huge.”

The event, which also features a kids marathon and a family fun run, was an emotional experience for Lawler last year. The course runs through the campus of the hospital, and Lawler said parents and patients alike turn out to watch and cheer on the runners.

“Those parents see you, and they know that you raised money,” Lawler said. “It makes you almost feel like a rockstar – they’re high-fiving you. Then you see the children out there … I ran through there, tears just running down my face.”

Of course, not everyone raises money. It’s possible to just sign up to run the race. But for Lawler, raising money is an important part of the event.

Last year all her donations were from friends, family and co-workers through her St. Jude fundraising page. She committed to raising $500 but far exceeded that goal, eventually raising $1,500 for the children’s hospital. This year she is upping the ante – $2,500 is the amount to collect, and she’ll be requesting donations at Founder’s Fest in Red Bay and hosting a few bake sales – Sept. 5 at Piggly Wiggly in Phil Campbell, Big Star in Red Bay and Hackleburg Market in Hackleburg. All funds raised go directly to St. Jude.

Lawler said experiencing last year’s marathon, and seeing all the children and parents she was helping, made her think of her own children and grandchildren.

“When I got back from the run, my husband was there of course, waiting on me,” Lawler said. “He was asking me all these questions, and I couldn’t talk. I would try, but I would open my mouth, and I would just cry.”

Lawler, who calls the marathon experience both rewarding and humbling, is also raising the bar in another way, besides just upping her fundraising goal.

“After I did it last year, I said, ‘I want to challenge myself to run a longer distance,’” she said. This will be her first-ever half marathon. A training program and a couple of 10Ks will prepare her for the event.

And although she hopes to do well – last year she came in fourth place out of 158 women in her age division; she was eight seconds outside of taking the third place medal – in the end, winning isn’t important.

“It’s not about the time,” she said. “It’s about the cause.”

To contribute to Lawler’s fundraising campaign, donate at Founder’s Fest; attend a bake sale; or visit her St. Jude Hero page by visitingheroes.stjude.org, clicking Search for a Hero and entering her name in the blanks provided.