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The following article appeared in Y-ME's IMAGES newsletter. If you want to support this worthy organization, go to the Y-ME Web site.
Many of
us have a hard time envisioning ourselves completing a 10-kilometer
(10K) run let alone running over 60 miles a day for 5 days straight,
but that’s what Jim Moore did recently. Starting in
Pittsburgh, PA on July 20, 2004, Jim ran a 303-mile course along the
Great Allegheny Trail and C&O Canal, finishing in Georgetown, DC
on July 24th. Although Jim and his wife Rebecca are
long-time ultra-distance runners, Jim didn’t undertake this run
just for fun or health benefits. He did it to raise funds for breast
cancer education and support in the national capital area. On this
run, Jim, Rebecca, and his team raised over $9,112 for Y-ME NCA.

James and Rebecca Give Donations to Y-ME Director, Kathy Alleman | So why
did Jim decide on such a grueling endeavor? It was because Rebecca
was diagnosed with breast cancer a little more than 3 years ago.
Like so many of us who have had our lives turned upside down by this
disease, Jim and Rebecca dealt with the trauma of diagnosis and
treatment and decided they wanted to do something for the breast
cancer cause – especially since they have two daughters they do
not want to see affected. Jim said he didn’t realize how much
breast cancer had impacted their lives until they took a trip to
Niagara Falls, NY shortly after Rebecca finished chemotherapy
treatments. Jim said he and Rebecca went out for a walk, and he was
surprised to find that “someone who was used to running
ultra-distances was only able to walk a few feet before she needed to
rest.”
In the
past, Jim has run ultra-distances to raise money for hungry children
and for the So Others Might Eat organization. In 2001 he ran to
raise funds for breast cancer research on the national level. This
year, after hinting around on his part and concern about whether he
should attempt this again on Rebecca’s part, he went in search
of a local breast cancer organization and found Y-ME on the internet.
Jim said he and Rebecca were drawn in by our offer of “24/7
one-on-one support – something no other breast cancer
organization in the area offers.”

Crew Chief Carolyn Gernand | A
runner for over 20 years, Jim started running 10Ks and then
marathons, working his way up to ultra-distances of 50 miles or more.
Rebecca also has been an ultra-distance runner for some 15 years.
Jim and Rebecca belong to the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club,
which they say “feels like family.” In fact, running
club members Anstr Davidson and Carolyn Gernand were part of Jim’s
crew. Anstr manages Jim’s run website and Carolyn, serving as
crew chief, joined Rebecca and the Moores’ son Terrence to
provide important logistical support along the run. Jim says one of
the challenges was that the Great Allegheny Trail is not fully open,
so there were some detours along the way, making it difficult for
Rebecca and Carolyn to support him on their bikes. Rebecca says she
was worried about Jim’s energy on the first day because she
believes she overfed him. She also says the 4th day was
“difficult due to serious thunderstorms.” Jim says
Rebecca used the thunderstorm as “an excuse to get off her bike
since the frame had metal in it.”

Bunny and Gary after another VHTRC Event | Jim
“blames” the idea for this run on his running buddy,
Robert Coyne, who initially biked on the Great Allegheny Trail. He
says he and Robert remain friends despite this suggestion. He also
tells us that other running club buddies Gary Knipling and Bunny
Runyan joined him in this latest endeavor and provided much needed
inspiration. Gary ran with Jim, and Bunny biked with Rebecca and was
a “good picker-upper.”
Jim and
Rebecca are part of the “military family.” They have
resided in the DC area since 1971. Jim is an Army veteran, having
served 2 tours in the Pentagon as well as in Viet Nam. Jim has spent
the past 20 years with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and
the Department of Homeland Security. Rebecca, having “served
her time with the military,” retired recently. Jim and Rebecca
have moved past the personal breast cancer diagnosis, but have not
moved past the impact on others. Jim and Rebecca are currently
training for the JFK 50-miler in Boonesboro, MD. Y-ME NCA thanks
them both for their dedication to the cause and wishes them much
energy on future runs.
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