Jennifer Smith

"My friend and running buddy, Julie Bonner, asked me to do this for her. Who wouldn’t?!.....she is doing something so special and very touching.

My name is Jennifer Smith and I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer November 2006.

I am going on my 4th year of being cancer FREE! I had an aggressive, fast-growing tumor that spread in my lymph-nodes. However, it was caught early and with the aggressive approach from my doctors, we were able to kill it ALL!

My experience and recovery was pretty good, overall! The way medicine is these days, my body was able to take it without me getting sick. However, my fatigue was huge! It totally took me over and I’m not one to let that get to me. I used a personal trainer to help me thru those days….cause I was NOT going to quit taking care of myself!

I still give THANKS to all my doctors and my personal trainer! Without them, I wouldn’t be here. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here”…..WOW, it’s still strange to say those words….gives me chills each time.



Please don't take life, health, family and friends for granted. Try and live each day to it's fullest. Most importantly...have fun and laugh hard!"

Frankie Knowles

Her story on her brain cancer will be up next week.

Karlee Johnson

Karlee became ill in September 2009 with recurring fever and pain in her hands and feet. After a month of blood of draws and searching for answers Karlee became extremely ill in the middle of the night and her pediatrician advised that she be taken to Texas Children's Hospital. Karlee Johnson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on October 8, 2009 at the age of six. Her course of treatment is approximately 2 1/2 years. She is enduring her treatment with a smile on her face. When she completes her treatment in December 2011, she will have received chemotherapy for approximately one third of her life.

Jeffrey Brown

Story coming soon.......

Ed Nagle

I never had the pleasure of knowing Ed. Sadly he passed away after being registered for the Kingwood Marathon that is run each year on January 1. His wife graciously donated his running bib to a runner who had cancer. That runner was my husband John and he ran that race in honor of Ed. That was John’s very first race and he was still in the early weeks of recovery and he ran in just under 3 hours. I have no doubt that the spirit of Ed helped John finish like he did.

Here is what Ed’s wife Marcia told us about him:

Ed had colon cancer that metastasized to his lungs. He had run 5 marathons before his diagnosis. In 1993 he had a 30 foot fall that stopped his running for a few years. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. That's when he decided to run again. After his diagnosis he ran 30 marathons, 13 half marathons, 3 Pikes Peak Ascents, and numerous smaller races. Ed felt that running gave his control over his disease. He wore a sign on his back that said "Running Down Cancer One Marathon at a Time", and most of his races were run with ulcers on his feet ,other medical challenges, and while he was on chemo. His last race was the 2009 San Antonio Half Marathon. He had hoped to run the full marathon, but at the last moment changed to the half. His speed was not what he hoped for, but he managed to finish most of his races (one Pikes Peak Ascent he had to turn around because he didn't make the time needed at the second turn around, so he ended up doing 20 plus miles instead of 13.1).

Ed would be honored that John will be running the race. I know he will be there in spirit cheering you on. Good luck to both of you with your running. Ed's doctors agreed with him that his running helped prolong his life. Medical complications, not cancer is what he died from.

I think both of you can identify with a quote Ed liked to share. "I hope to show people that adversity is not the end of the world. It's going to happen to everyone sometime during his or her lifetime. It's how you deal with it that's important. You can give up or fight. If you believe in yourself and keep fighting, it can make you a better person."

Marcia Nagle

Chester Payton "Bud" Irby

Chester Payton “Bud” Irby Jr., 76, went to be with the Lord after a courageous and determined battle with cancer on April 19, 2011. Born in Houston on Dec. 16, 1934, he lived in Huntsville, since 1976.

Throughout his life, Bud worked as a stationery engineer and construction supervisor in Houston and Huntsville, as well as overseas. He retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2000. He proudly served in the U.S. Naval Reserves and was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was also a member of the Melrose Chapter of the Masonic Lodge. Bud was married 55 years to his wife, Billie, and was a devoted father and grandfather.


In his memory, friends are encouraged to make a donation to the American Cancer Society.

Jim Bruce

As I wait for Jim's family to share their story, allow me to share mine. My husband and I ran into the Bruce's one day right before Christmas a few months ago. John (my husband) had just finished treatments from cancer and was starting to be able to eat again. We shared a meal with Jim and his beautiful wife Vicki and talked for a good while. Jim was a runner too and we talked about running the Blue Bell 10k in April of this year. No one knew on that day that Jim had cancer. A couple months later in February he had a routine colonoscopy and then the story begins to change. I, like many others, have been following Jim's story through detailed update messages from Vicki. Very sadly Jim passed away yesterday on May 19, 2011. Thankfully Jim had the chance to spend his last days surrounded by the people he loved and who love him. Never take a day for granted, we do not know what God's plan is for us but we know HIS WILL will be done. There is no doubt cancer has had an impact on this family and that is why I will run for Jim on March 4, 2012 to honor his memory and raise money for cancer research.

John Bonner

Fundraising is not an easy thing, but you know what cancer isn't easy either. Please take a moment to read my story.

May 1, 2010 My husband John signed up with USA Fit-Cypress to train for his first 1/2 marathon. A few days later we signed up to run the San Antonio marathon.

June 30, 2010 John has a biopsy of a lump in his neck

July 7, 2010 John is diagnosed with a malignant tumor and surgery was scheduled.

July 25, 2010 John ran 3 miles (5K) in San Franciso which was the final leg of a "progressive marathon" (he had logged 23 miles at home)

July 30, 2010 John ran 7 miles!! The longest he has ever ran~~ this would be his last run
August 4, 2010 John had a radical neck dissection. Surgery took 5 hours they removed his complete thyroid and 68 lymph nodes. Many of them contained cancer.
August 16, 2010 John started DAILY radiation treatments (see picture..when I can get it loaded for now look at Face Book) which lasted until October 8, 2010...........8 weeks of radiation. He lost his taste buds, he had severe burns to his head, neck, and back. He lost the ability to swallow food and lost 41 pounds!!! He had to sleep sitting up and gagged and vomited all night EVERY night!
October 7, 2010 We had a big scare and were told he might have more cancer. Many STAT tests were ordered and all came back positive (meaning no more cancer!)
October 12, 2010 John was admitted to the hospital to have radiation iodine treatment. He swallowed a pill to make him radioactive. No one can be near him and he was not allowed to take anything with him to the hospital because all around him would have to be destroyed.
October 14 my sweet husband sat alone in a room wrapped in plastic waiting for the Geiger counters to have a low enough reading to allow him to come home.

It is now May 10, 2011 and John still has a little trouble swallowing and cannot taste food, but he is healthier and has even run three 1/2 marathons. The most special one was the New Orleans 1/2 Marathon where we ran side by side. I raised 2,200 for cancer research in that race and now I hope that you will help me raise 13,100.00 this time in honor of John and the 12 other families you will read about on this blog. May God bless you and your family and may you always be cancer free.