Faster Than Skin Cancer
Join us on Saturday February 3, 2024 in Tennessee (US)
Raising Awareness & Funds for Research
Each year, more and more people are diagnosed with skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Recent studies estimate that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Join us on our quest to raise awareness of skin cancer & funds for The Skin Cancer Foundation on Saturday February 3, 2024 at Greenway Farms, Tennesee.
The Faster Than Skincancer Fun Run will include two events for participants to choose from:
- A 5-mile fun run, on a combination of single-track dirt trails and paved paths. These trails are typically used for hiking and running, and they include rolling hills through shaded and wooded areas of the park. This will NOT be a timed event, nor is it a race. As the event title suggests, it is simply meant to be a fun run, to bring the running community together for an important cause.
- A one-mile community walk, along a less technical dirt trail, with little elevation gain, in a wooded part of the park. This event will be for those that do not wish to, or are unable to, participate in the 5-mile fun run event. This will be a great option for those that wish to walk as a group, or to bring the whole family.
Photo: Greenway Farms (copyright northchick.org)
Register & Donate
There will be no cost to attend this event, but we ask that you REGISTER HERE so we know how many participants to expect. As you register, please consider DONATING to the Skin Cancer Foundation, so that they may continue to spread awareness and help people to detect and treat this disease.
Sponsor & Volunteer
We are still looking for sponsors and volunteers. Please reach out to Meredith Feira meredithafeira@gmail.com or call (423) 544-5174 for more information.
Two skin cancer patients unite
Meredith Feira, the initiator of the Faster Than Skincancer Fun Run, is a current skin cancer patient, battling Stage 4 melanoma. She is a wife, mother of two young children, and avid trail runner in the Chattanooga area.
This is now Meredith’s second battle with melanoma. Her first diagnosis was in 2016, which was discovered after spotting a mole on her chest. After being in remission for almost five years, her melanoma returned in 2020, in the midst of training for her first ever trail race…
“The idea of organizing this event came to mind, since my running journey and my melanoma journey are so interwoven. It became so important to me to share my story and spread awareness amongst runners, and to others as well. I want people, myself included, to feel comfortable to continue to do what they love to do outdoors. But to have the knowledge to protect their skin while participating in those activities. I hope that my story, and this event, will inspire others to take their skin health seriously.”
Marije Kruis founded the non-profit Spot the Dot in 2015 after being diagnosed with melanoma…
“A few years ago a friend who was a physiotherapist pointed out a tiny spot on my lower leg and told me to have a dermatologist look at it. I took up his advice and to make a long (medical) story short, that spot which looked so innocent to me, was already a far progressed melanoma. In the following year, I heard so many misconceptions about skin cancer from people around me, which made me realize that there is such a big need to raise more awareness around this topic. Hearing these misconceptions motivated me to start my own foundation, Spot The Dot.”
The Fun Run
The Faster Than Skincancer Fun Run was created alongside Spot The Dot, as part of their Faster Than Skincancer campaign, to help spread awareness of melanoma and other skin cancers, among the running community and those that enjoy being active outdoors. This includes sharing information on how to best prevent and detect skin cancer, while still being able to enjoy one’s favorite outdoor activities, whether that is running, hiking, walking, biking, etc.
The Faster Than Skincancer Fun Run will also be a fundraising event, as the proceeds will go toward the Skin Cancer Foundation.