WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Caitlin Brogcinski runs 26.2 miles of D.C. streets on Sunday, October 28, past the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, she’ll be thinking about a walk; a special walk, down the aisle this December with the help of her brother who just returned home from his second tour in Afghanistan.
Caitlin is running the Marine Corps Marathon in honor of her brother, Marine Corps CPL Kyle Brogcinski, who serves in the 1371 Combat Engineer, 3rd Battalian out of Camp Pendleton. She’s also running in honor of her aunt and grandmother who both passed from cancer. Caitlin, who is a Physical Education Teacher at Calvert High School in Calvert, Maryland, raised donations through her participation in the Marine Corps Marathon that will benefit the American Cancer Society’s life-saving programs.
“My aunt passed away when I was in grad school with liver cancer,” Caitlin said. “And my grandmother just passed in January from lung cancer. It was tough. It makes running those long, hot runs in the summer a lot easier. When you’re out there for three hours you have a lot of time to reflect. And in ways you feel that you’re still connected to people you love that are no longer here.
While running, Caitlin also often thought about Kyle in Afghanistan.
“He was deployed in April. I signed up soon after that and began training for the Marine Corps Marathon.”
Caitlin even scheduled her wedding for December of this year so that Kyle could walk her down the aisle.
“No one books a wedding Buffalo in winter!” Caitlin said. “He was supposed to be in Afghanistan until November but he received early release on September 16. They (the Marines) started pulling back on troops. His unit was sent home early. He’s now home safe, and is stationed at Camp Pendleton.”
While Caitlin has been running for 12 years, the Marine Corps Marathon is her first 26.2-mile race. She said she hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Caitlin also said the encouragement she’s received from the American Cancer Society has been “amazing.”
“I know people who have worked with other organizations for this race have not had nearly the support like I’ve had with ACS.”
Funds Caitlin raises will help the Society add to the nearly 14 million U.S. cancer survivors, and support the Society’s $4.6 billion investment in cancer research.
Before the race, Caitlin’s mother is flying in from Buffalo. And her fiancée, Dave Fregelette, will be there, too. And in the minds and hearts of all of them—during the marathon, and during the wedding—will be the thoughts and memories of Kyle and Caitlin’s grandmother and aunt, as Kyle is home safe and Caitlin crosses the finish line that leads to the rest of her life.
Caitlin in her own words in June 2012.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. For cancer news in your community, visit sacancernews.org.
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