Why Austin Cancer Centers Supports the Brain Power 5k

Austin Cancer Centers is honored to serve as the presenting sponsor for the Brain Power 5k. We’re continually amazed by the compassion and generosity of Central Texans and we’re honored to join together with them in the fight against brain cancer.

Brain cancer is a particularly deadly and aggressive disease. The five year survival rate is 33.4%. Its effect on children is even more pronounced, as it’s the second deadliest cancer among people under 20-years-old. 

It has touched Austin Cancer Centers, taking the life of one of our own staff's children. Kellen was 11 years old when he first started feeling "weird." It wasn't long after that before he started to experience seizures, and the brain tumor was discovered. After going through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy - all with a smile on his face and an unbreakable will - doctors were able to extend his life until the age of 15.

  

This experience has only hardened our resolve to bring world class treatments to intelligent and upbeat young Austinites like Kellen––who deserve a fighting chance.

In the face of these sobering statistics and personal experiences, it’s vital that we do all we can to provide hope to the afflicted and support for survivors, while remembering those lost. The Brain Power 5k is a tremendous opportunity to do just that.

At Austin Cancer Centers, we believe that the battle against cancer cannot be fought alone. It requires the effort of the entire community. That’s why we support this race. By bringing together a diverse body of medical centers, research institutions, survivors and caring citizens from right here in Central Texas, the Brain Power 5k shows just how powerful a community can be. Together, we can turn the tide against brain cancer.

 

Join the Austin Cancer Centers Team TODAY!

Register here!

 

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Thank you for your loyal support Austin Cancer Centers! We are proud to have you as a such a major pillar in the brain tumor community. We are so grateful for all you do.

~BP5K

 

 

Nikki shares on the BP5K

My name is Nikki Gibson. I was diagnosed with a benign subependymoma in December 2012. I was 24 years old. Last year I participated in the Brain Power 5K for the first time. It was so much fun! It was a great feeling being one of the Powerful People. It was very encouraging to be surrounded by so many survivors like myself...to meet people that have gone through what I've gone through. I first decided to do the race after my neurologist told me about it and encouraged me to attend. It's important for me to do the race so I can be a representative for all the survivors. It's also important for me to show support for family and friends racing in memory of lost loved ones. It meant so much to me last year to have my family and friends support me. I hope more of them are able to come out and support me this year. I really love the fact that all the money donated goes towards brain tumor research. Not only that, but the BP5K is raising even more awareness by broadcasting the event on the local news...that's wonderful! The Brain Power 5K was such an inspiring experience for me last year and I can't wait to race again this year! :)

Join Nikki today and register here!

Angi's Story

In 2003 I was diagnosed with a pineal brain tumor. My son was 6 months old. My first thought was “Am I going to get to see my son grow up?” Then I thought, “Where is the pineal gland?” It’s in the middle of your head at the top of your brain stem. My doctor immediately got me into see the neurosurgeons in Austin. They basically told me “There is no way we are going to touch you. You are going to MD Anderson in Houston.” So off we went. After meeting with the surgeon at MD Anderson we decided on surgery. 

The tumor was

successfully removed during surgery. I am seeing my son grow up. At the time of the surgery, my mother was told that I was only one of seven to have an actual tumor in this location, many cysts had been removed, but not very many tumors. We are very thankful to MD Anderson and their wonderful staff for their help.


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Iram J. Leon, a survivor story on the BP5K

Every once in a while, the universe is kind enough to give you a place in the middle of messes, where everything makes sense, even if it's just for  few moments. For some of us, it's in ceremonies, in music, in relationships, at events. For me, for the last few years, many of those moments have been in running. And that may not be true of any 5k more than the Brain Power. 

When my cancer journey started, I woke up in an ambulance after a grand mal seizure the day after I'd come in first in a running workout. I would be diagnosed with grade II diffuse astrocytoma, a rare brain cancer. Immediately running would become my therapy, sneaking out of the hospital the day before the biopsy for an 8 mile run and putting off brain surgery to run a marathon.

However, after brain surgery, when some things hadn’t gone right, I was sitting feeling sorry for myself. My friends and family were shocked that I was missing more days of running than I was putting in. But by the kindness of the universe on my very first birthday a few months after the surgery, 8/8 an email arrived to my running group’s list serve announcing the Brain Power 5k, Austin’s first ever race raising money for brain cancer research. I signed up, started training and raising money. My friend Egon who would come with me would tell me I needed to try to win but while there are few races where I’m not up to giving it what I had… I didn’t know if I was in shape to make that any type of goal.

However, when race day came, I arrived there knowing I’d been the leading fundraiser and at that time the most money I’d ever raised for a charity. The race would go on and to both my shock and happiness; it would be the first race I would win since college, almost a decade before. I would also meet the race director and other survivors who I’m still in contact with. Some of us have stayed in touched even to the point of being in each other’s house. Those connections helped a journey that often feels so alone, one that we can share and somehow be alone together. And no matter what else had gone wrong before the race, everything that went right at the Brain Power 5k helped me realize it was nowhere near time to hang up the running shoes. 

 

But there was still something to be learned because that first year, I took only one friend with me. So when the second year came around, I helped put together a team, the Scarecrows (if I only had a brain). We started fundraising earlier with more conviction, and I was privileged to serve on the committee that helped organize the race. Despite hitting a higher quantity than my first yer, I would take second in the fundraising that time around. During the race itself, because brain surgery has left me with some spatial orientation issues, I would make a wrong turn and would run extra and would come in further back than I do in almost every race. While I’d love to admit that my initial reaction was just to laugh it off as a good sport, I pouted for a bit. But a little while later, as my teammates came in and received awards, I realized this was better than whatever place I got at the race. Also, just as importantly, this was the first race in my entire life that my daughter Kiana and my mother had ever done. So it went from being a personal victory to being a friends and family thing… and I realized those kinds of times mattered to me a whole lot more than mile splits.

 

The third year of the race, I was still helping organize and was honored to be named as one of the first honorary chairs. Once again, we would pump up the volume, get a bigger team and raise more funds. Still showing the progress of the race, even with more funds, I would take in the 3^rd year, third in the fundraising. But there were teammates there that I had met years before and

some a few weeks before from running marathons and Spartans. It was and is comforting to know that the army against brain tumors is getting bigger and gives me more faith that brain tumors may still be ahead in some areas but you better believe we’re getting closer to victory. It was one week after I ran a marathon and despite rugged legs, I would manage to stay on course and take 3^rd place and win my age group. Two and a half years into brain cancer I was running a faster time a week after a marathon with cancer than I used to without cancer or a race the weekend before. And afterwards we held a party where you better believe we celebrated with conviction.

I can’t quite think of a race that year after year grows in meaning, in fundraising, in connections. The organizing committee gives me a hard time about my being single and suggests selling off a date with me as a fundraiser or that I should propose inside the inflatable brain that we always put out on this 4^th time at the race. While that’s not likely to happen, the reason the race keeps getting better for me and lots of others is because those who organize it realize that the reason we fight cancer is to keep hope, joys, connections, faith, the meaning of life going for those of us who got an unfortunate turn with a piece of our mind. 

Perhaps that the Brain Power 5k for me will keep getting better will not always be the case. I’ve certainly met and shared stories and tears with those who are there in honor of those who have passed or those who are there in honor of someone who doesn’t have the capacity to run it themselves that day. While my cancer and seizures have finally gotten under control (I had to get rides to 2 of the 3 due to a driving restriction), I don’t work off the assumption that they always will. I personally am one week away from my MRI as I write and believe you me, I hate being in the MRI machine, it is to me the loneliest place in the universe and still where I appreciate friends and family the most. So the brain power 5k will be one of the happy thoughts in that machine trying to focus on that the fear of the unknown is semi irrelevant since the future really is always unknown.. And well, if the pattern of the Brain Power 5k is indicative of something is that with some effort and heart even with a damaged brain, the unknown future may turn out to be better than we dreamed.

Support J or join his team here!

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A survivor tells in her own words...

I just wanted to say a few things about the race.  First, I am a brain tumor survivor.  I had my tumor removed in 1998 at 24 years old.  Had 3 months of rehab and still have a pretty useless right hand in fine motor tasks.  I write left handed now, balance issues and double vision without glasses.  Anyway, I never actually THOUGHT about what I went through.  Never.  When I walked on the field at the BP5K, I started crying.  I didn’t stop.  There I was with my hubby, whom I met several years after my ordeal, and 4 young kids.  Why was I in tears?  Because I couldn’t find any “survivor” shirts.  I eventually spotted a few, but that inspired more tears.  Why weren’t there more survivors?  Why am I a survivor?  It was something I had never actually thought about.  I was talking with my sister after the race and telling her that I felt so lucky to be in the position that I am in.  I RAN the race.  I had a successful career after the surgery.  My life isn’t THAT impacted.  Her response was “so you are less of a survivor?”  Anyway, participating in the BP5K has stirred up a lot of emotions and issues I had never addressed.  Thank you for organizing this amazing race and providing such an amazing opportunity for survivors and those impacted by such a terrible disease to connect.   I will be at the race in Houston in March and definitely at the 4th BP5K next year.  This time, my hubby and kids will participate as well.  It was an experience I cherished and I hope that I was able to give hope to others.  You can have a brain tumor and live. 

   

What an amazing weekend.  Can’t wait until next year!

Jenn Otto

SURVIVOR Guest Blogger:

Well, today marks 4 years.  It was four years ago that I had surgery to remove a malignant tumor from my brain.  I was thrown into the cancer world and of course the resulting anxiety.  I initially avoided any mention of the “c” word.  However, over time, I have grown to embrace and even profess my title of SURVIVOR.  While preparing to participate in my second BP5K this year, I made a very symbolic connection through my search for a creative, clever, and meaningful team name.

I chose the team name “HEADSTRONG”.  The symbolic translation, head + strong, is an obvious description of myself and all survivors.  We are strong in the head, that’s for sure.  The literal definition of the word describes our fortitude and determination precisely. 

 head•strong [hed-strawng, -strong] adjective 1. determined to have one's own way; willful; self-willed; stubborn; obstinate: a headstrong young woman. 2. proceeding from or exhibiting willfulness: a headstrong course.

The more I thought about the new team, the name HEADSTRONG rang a bell and reminded me of a famous song by the band Trapt.   I looked up the lyrics and found our survivors story put to music.  The song is perfectly titled “Headstrong” and the lyrics describe our fight against brain cancer and our determination to succeed.

I see your motives inside

Decisions to hide

Back off, I'll take you on

Headstrong to take on anyone

I know that you are wrong

And this is not where you belong

I can't give everything away

I won't give everything away

I discovered the existence of the BP5K last summer.  The 2012 race was my first interaction and over the past year my involvement has grown tremendously.  Kelly and the BP5K provide such a sense of unity and purpose for the survivors of the central Texas community.  The feat of “making a difference” feels much more real and attainable with the driving force and support of the BP5K.

Laura Cook

Join Laura's Team 

Kick-Off Party!

We have had LOTS going in the past several weeks, it has been very exciting to be a part of the Brain Power 5K! To catch you up, May was Brain Cancer Awareness Month and the BP5K was in full force spreading our mission. In May, we created the first EVER attempt of an all brain cancer survivor team to complete a marathon distance together in a relay format called the Brain Power-thon. And we did it! You can see some photos here and here. The Brain Power-thon was a huge success and the survivors had a very special morning sharing their abounding strength with one another and the general public. We were joined by YNN and KVUE to share these amazing efforts of our Powerful People, it was an all around incredible day! Check out the coverage from KVUE by clicking here.

Our other events around town went great as well. I had the pleasure of wrapping up Brain Cancer Awareness Month by attending the annual meeting with the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation at MD Anderson and their extremely talented Dr. Amy Heimberger, Dr. Juan Fueyo, Dr. Paul Brown and Dr. Roel Verhaak (on behalf of Dr. John de Groot) whom presented four projects, two of which our efforts were able to contribute to in 2012. Here they discussed different programs such as personalized treatments- especially important when tumors are changing, the Delta 24-an injected virus that prevents the cancer growth replication pathway and how they are making such great strides in these thanks to funds from efforts like ours. The doctors also spoke on how they desperately need our funding in order to keep improving these life-saving projects. They continue to get closer to answers making great improvements, but just as the tumors continue to change, we must continue to fight. The doctors are not able to make these trials and projects possible just on funding from us alone. From each dollar we contribute, the National Cancer Institute will in turn grant these necessary programs an estimated $5-$10 to keep the project in motion. Every dollar you raise, literally makes a countless difference.

Summer is here!
I hope you have marked your calendar for this Thursday, July 11th! We are having our Kick-Off Party for the 3rd Annual Brain Power 5K at the Rattle Inn from 6-8pm! We will be enjoying their gorgeous rooftop view of downtown Austin, extended Happy Hour prices, complimentary appetizers and sweets from Zocalo Cafe and Galaxy Cafe along with a chance to win some great raffle prizes from Rogue Running and OTL Fitness! Come join us for a fun night out and to learn more about the Brain Power 5K! We'll be glad to help you with any fundraising, training or overall questions as well. You'll have a chance to visit with our Honorary Co-Chairs Matt Cotcher and Iram J. Leon too! Let us know if you can make it on our event page here.

More exciting updates~

We are thrilled to announce that the only walk-through, true-to-life, inflatable brain will be joining us again for 2013, the AmeriBrain! And we are very proud to have Scott & White Healthcare Brain Tumor Center as our sponsor of the AmeriBrain. Not only that, the Brain Power 5K is honored to have the opportunity to support the efforts of Dr. Ekokobe Fonkem at Scott & White Healthcare Brain Tumor Center here in Central Texas with a portion of the proceeds from the 2013 race! We are so excited about this partnership and to see research grow here in Central Texas!

Remember to register today, create your team, email your contacts to join you and let them know that you're fundraising for Brain Cancer Research that is so greatly needed. September 8th will be here before we know it!!

  

 Register TODAY: BRAINPOWER5K.com