Stride For Lives
The Stride Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families through a combination of fundraising and fitness challenges.
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Episodes
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Friday Apr 12, 2024
Tune in to hear Morgan Crews' inspiring journey from a child deeply affected by her father’s lymphoma to a passionate advocate for cancer research. Now an accomplished author, illustrator, and accountant, Morgan has actively supported the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, MD Anderson, and other organizations through significant fundraising efforts. Formerly a competitive swimmer, now a distance runner and aerialist, Morgan's story showcases her versatility and unwavering dedication to making a difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer. Join us to explore her impactful journey and enduring commitment to the cause.
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Tune in now to find out how our last 2 events were, how are Sponsored family is doing, and what's next for The Stride Project!
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Today is truly special as we welcome our amazing guest, my client, and friend, David Niemi. David has spent his entire career trying to fix the education in the US. His unwavering commitment to education reform is nothing short of inspiring, from earning an MA at Harvard to co-founding a computer education company, leading impactful research projects, to publishing about 80 articles and presenting around the world and currently David is consulting with people who are trying to build research-based online courses, and he’s writing a book on why people believe what they believe. He has a lovely wife and a daughter. In the fall of 2021, David confronted a life-altering challenge – prostate cancer. Yet, here he is, resilient and ready to share his story.
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Rachel and I share how our very first Fitness Challenge of the year for The Stride Project is doing. Everything from how much we've raised, to how many community minutes have been logged, encouraging messages from participants and donors, and ultimately how grateful we are for everyone who's been giving of their time and donations!
We also share our next upcoming event! Get ready it's a Virtual RACE!
Remember it's not too late to sign up for this event, we still have 20 days left of January! So come and join, share, or donate if you feel a calling to help :)
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Carolyn Brinich is the author of Faith, Hope, and Cancer: The Journey of a Childhood Cancer Survivor, this book is her personal story and you can find this on Amazon! Carolyn is a dual certified Recreational Therapist and Childlife Specialist. She has more than 25 years working with pediatric cancer patients, being a strong advocate and voice for childhood cancer survivors, while helping them battle their cancers along the way. Today we are honored to learn more about Caryolyns story from battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at the age of 14, and how she navigated life afterwards.She is now celebrating her 30th cancerversary.
Friday Dec 01, 2023
Friday Dec 01, 2023
Today we have Mike Csikos, a dear friend of our mothers and one of the “Rebels” in the Team in Training crew. Mike’s family was introduced to TNT in the midst of their son Christophers fight with Leukemia. Christopher was only 5 years old when he lost his battle to Leukemia. Today we are honored to learn more about their experience during this time and the long term effects it’s had on their family as whole.
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Today we have our very first Family (The Escamilla Family) who we will be sponsoring through The Stride Project. Julia, the youngest of 4, at only 2 years old, was diagnosed in 2022 with Epindymoma. She had to have an emergency surgery to remove cancer from her brain, followed by chemo and radiation. In Jan 2023, the Epindymoma showed up in her spine. It was removed by surgery and again followed up by radiation. She is now receiving chemo because of 2 spots on her brain that are inoperable. Today we have with us her amazing parents Kristina and Leo to share Julia’s and their families story.
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
From the last to be chosen on the volleyball team to being a 25 time marathoner, and ironman athlete we are honored to introduce one of our mothers greatest friends and competitors Pam Meaux. Pam is a believer in Christ, a wife, mother of 2, fully retired from the company Entergy after a 30 year career, she is currently president of the Woodlands Running club and will be competing this March in Tokyo to get her 6th star to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which includes NYC, Chicago, Boston, London, Berlin and Tokyo!
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Today we talk to the best guy we know... our father Will. Will shares his story of his life with Sue, how Sue got involved with running and Team in Training, and the battle he fought alongside her with Breast Cancer. Will shares with us his personal experience of the journey with the loss of mom, and also shares points of encouragement for those who are going through dark times and that there's always hope no matter how alone or broken you may feel.
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
It's amazing how God can speak to your heart and deliver! In this Episode we introduce Dana-Sue (the person God put on my heart to start my non-profit) and Bill Crews her husband. This power couple has such huge hearts and have spent decades raising awareness, and funding to end cancer as well as doing advocacy, speaking to legislators at both local and national levels about the need for increased funding and support. Bill also shares his story of being diagnosed with stage four, highly aggressive, completely incurable non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 37 and how 3 years later he crossed the finish line to becoming an Ironman triathlete.
Our Mission Our Story
In 2010, our world shattered when our mother, Sue, lost her battle with stage 4 invasive breast cancer. We were only 21 years old at the time. In the span of five short months, from the moment we received that devastating diagnosis until her passing, our lives were launched into an unforeseen and abrupt heart-breaking journey.
To fully understand the remarkable woman of our mother, it is important to know that she was affectionately known as "Super Sue" by her clients, friends, and of course by us—her children. She was a powerhouse, a beacon of strength, hope and light, a dedicated wife, mother, and friend. She was a registered nurse but decided to change her occupation into a more holistic approach where she managed her own successful business as an Integrated Reflexologist. She devoted her spare time to the YMCA, where she taught an array of fitness classes along with leading the run club. In addition, she achieved incredible accomplishments, including the completion of over 30 marathons while qualifying for the Boston Marathon every time, conquered numerous triathlons, 100-mile canoe races, 200-mile relay runs, and century bike rides. Somehow, amidst all of this, she still managed to pour her heart into the lives of those she loved, always going above and beyond. Her love for people radiated, making the world a better place in her presence.
Going back to Super Sue’s astonishing accomplishments, it was never just about crossing those finish lines; it was about running each race for a greater cause and purpose. Sue was deeply committed to Team In Training (TNT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Leukemia & Lymphoma. Her journey with TNT was remarkable, raising an astounding $100,000 on her own, solidifying her status as one of the top fundraisers for the Texas Gulf Coast Team. Her passion extended beyond the finish line, as she proudly displayed her patients' faces and names on her jersey, encouraging support and cheers to help them battle their own challenges. Sue's charisma, perseverance, and unwavering spirit left a permanent mark on everyone she touched—not only was she strong and determined, but a force of hope.
Sue's battle with cancer ended far too soon. It left our family shattered, lost, and broken. Cancer, a spiteful adversary, not only confines its cruelty to the individual suffering—it reaches out and touches every member of the family, leaving us all in desolation.
We remember those days of helplessness, the overwhelming sense of loss, and the emptiness that engulfed us. As a family, we struggled—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially. Our faith was tested, our health deteriorated, and our resources dwindled. We were far from okay. What we desperately needed was support, guidance, and the chance to heal. However, the demands of life, with its relentless pace, made it impossible for us to step away from our pain. We carried on because we had to, but it took a heavy toll.
Over the course of a decade, we slowly found our way back, navigating through the seasons of grief and loss without our Super Sue by our side. As they say, time has a way of healing wounds, but our journey was difficult and it needn't have been. That's why we are here today, introducing The Stride Project—a heartfelt mission born from our own experience. We want to ensure that no other family has to endure the loneliness, the loss, and the brokenness that we did.
Families should have the opportunity to heal. With your support, The Stride Project aims to be the lifeline for families in need, offering them solace, guidance, and a chance to heal together. Let us join hands and ensure that no family battles alone. Together, we can light the path towards healing, just as our Super Sue would have wanted.