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PROVO — Jacqueline Waldron stood in a sea of runners dressed in colorful Lycra leggings, nylon shorts and expensive running shoes as the gun fired to start the 21st annual Rex Lee Run for a Cure.
“I’m not a runner,” she thought as her unsure legs wobbled her down the street with the rest of the crowd. “This is for your mom,” she said under her breath, now ready to endure the pain of a 6-mile race to honor the mother she lost to cancer 11 years ago.
Waldron’s mom found out she had cancer when she was pregnant with her. Her doctors encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy and start treatments right away. However, Waldron’s mom always knew she would have 12 children, and she was willing to sacrifice whatever personal health problems she needed to in order to have her last child.
After Waldron was born, her mother was immediately taken to get treated for her cancer. For the next 11 years, Waldron remembers going with her mom to all her doctor’s appointments. She doesn’t remember much besides sitting in the hospital chair and listening to her mom laugh and tell her stories. Of her mom, Waldron said, “She never let the cancer stop her. She raised 12 children with hope and faith in her wings. She would rarely miss out on anything and made our lives full of joy and goodness, despite the fact that she had the biggest burden on her side.”
The Rex Lee Run for a Cure is held each year to honor past and present cancer fighters like Waldron’s mom. This race originated in 1996 to honor former President of BYU, Rex E. Lee, who passed away due to cancer. Each year, runners from all over Utah and Salt Lake Counties come and participate.
The proceeds from the race go to fund BYU cancer research students that are actively involved in finding a cure at BYU’s Simmons Center for Cancer Research. The 2016 Rex Lee Run proved to be a very successful race, with over 1,500 runners. Ultimately, from this year’s race, $54,000 were raised for cancer research at BYU.
“I feel so blessed to be alive. If it wasn't for (my mom’s) selfless choice to choose me over a cancer-free life, I wouldn't be here. There is no woman quite like her. She made life worth something and impacted every soul that knew her.”
Waldron’s journey at the race was not the easiest, especially with a bad knee. Once her knee started giving out, she really started wondering why she decided to run the 10K. However, during some of those hardest moments, she found strength and courage as she saw all the signs along the race course with the names of past and present cancer fighters.
Her thoughts turned toward her mom, especially as she saw a garage sale on the side of the road. Waldron’s mom had a passion for garage sales, and Waldron started tearing up because she knew her mom was right there with her, not only in this specific journey at the Rex Lee Run, but throughout the adventure of life. Waldron believes this focus on unity and love is what makes the Rex Lee Run memorable and different from any other race.
When Waldron’s mother passed away, it was especially hard for her because she felt a special bond with her mother. Ever since she can remember, she was always right by her mom’s side.
“I feel so blessed to be alive," Waldron said. "If it wasn't for (my mom’s) selfless choice to choose me over a cancer-free life, I wouldn't be here. There is no woman quite like her. She made life worth something and impacted every soul that knew her.”
Although this experience has been anything but easy, Waldron continues to find hope, strength and joy in life as she strives each day to become the woman her mother exemplified and to share with others that token of love her mother so willingly gave to her.
