CONQUER CANCER ONE MILE AT A TIME WITH CONCERN FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH (2015)

In 2010 Concern Foundation became an official charity partner with the Los Angeles marathon and TEAM CONCERN was established as participants in their Stadium to the Sea course through the streets of Los Angeles. Since the partnership began TEAM CONCERN has raised over $730,000 as an Official Charity partner and all funds have been dedicated to cancer research and treatment, including special grant gifts to the AYA@USC program at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC. They AYA@USC has joined TEAM CONCERN the past several years and has brought in runners from as far away as Hawaii. 

For Caryn Roach, one of Team Concern’s runners, this was her fourth ASICS LA Marathon. However, it was her first marathon since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012. Through collaboration with the Adolescent and Young Adult Program at the University of Southern California (AYA@USC), a partnership with USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Caryn trained and raised funds on behalf of Concern Foundation. 

As both a young adult cancer survivor and an occupational therapist for the AYA@USC Program, Roach has a special connection with the cancer patients she works with. 

“I know how scary and confusing it can be and how important this program is for adolescent and young adult cancer fighters and survivors,” says Roach, an occupational therapist for the program. 

Roach demonstrates the same amount of dedication and passion for her work as she does her marathon training and credits the LA Marathon with helping her persevere through her diagnosis. 

“When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I thought, ‘How the heck am I going to get through this?’” says Roach. “And then I remembered that marathon—if I could finish that race, well, I should be able to get through this too.” 

When asked about how she stayed motivated throughout the grueling training process, Roach admits that sometimes she felt like she won’t be able to make it but reminded herself, “You made it through cancer; you can do this, too.” 

Roach became involved with Concern Foundation last year, when she participated in the 2014 LA Marathon 2-person Charity Relay. She was joined by fellow Concern teammates to run, walk and jog the “Stadium to the Sea” marathon course—26.2 miles—all in the name of cancer research. 

Concern Foundation is grateful to each of the members of Team Concern who raised a record-breaking amount of money for cancer research. Together, they endured many hours of hard work, intense training and the hot sun on race day, all to further Concern’s mission to conquer cancer. 

Team Concern promotes all level of experience to participate, beginners included, and we encourage those interested in walking the marathon route to participate as well. The Roadrunners training program is available for all levels, and they offer 15 different training groups that tailor to walkers, walk/run, and runners. Our LA Marathon team members are encouraged to raise a minimum of $1,000.00 in order to participate. 5k participants are asked to raise a minimum of $350.00. These goals are attainable and we are here to help you reach and surpass your goal. As a member of Team Concern, you will be provided with you own fundraising page to track your donations and share your personal story.