Professor Fights Cancer by Running

Karen Senecal is serious about fighting leukemia and lymphoma. She had friends and family who have fought cancer, and she’s doing something about it.

The associate professor of business administration is in training to run 13.1 miles—a half marathon—on Sunday, Nov. 7 to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Her goal is to get 100 of her closest friends to donate $5 each for the run.

“This is the first time I’ve run this distance,” says Senecal. “In college, I ran a 10K—six miles—but I haven’t run farther than four miles since then. Last Friday I ran 10 miles for the first time, so I am getting close to the 13.1 of the half marathon.”

Senecal has been raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for the past three years. A friend’s three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007. At that point, she joined her friend in doing the Light the Night walk in 2008 to raise money for LLS. “They walk in Columbia, South Carolina, and I have walked here in Fort Worth,” she says. It was through her connection with Light the Night that she heard about the half-marathon.

Senecal trains with a group called Team in Training. The organization has teams all over the United States, training for a variety of marathons, triathalons, 100-mile bike rides and hikes. Senecal was prompted to join in the November 7 half-marathon because it is the 30th anniversary of her grandfather’s death from leukemia, and the six-month anniversary of her mother’s cancer diagnosis and surgery. “Plus, it’s part of my Fit by Fifty plan!” she adds.

People interested in supporting Senecal in her effort to raise funds can donate online at http://pages.teamtraining.org/ntx/dallas10/ksenecawts. Please donate by Tuesday, Sept. 28.

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