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Can you imagine the day that there is a cure for cancer, AIDS or diabetes? And in the meantime, there being enough money to fund research? How about running a 26-mile run towards a cure?
Maureen Moore, a humanities professor on campus is doing just that. She is an enthusiastic woman hoping one day a cure for cancer will arise. To help towards a cure, she is running a marathon in the hopes of raising up to $2,900 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training program on June 3, in San Diego, California.
This program helps people like Moore complete marathons while raising funds to support blood cancer patients and their families at the same time.
The cancer-related death of her 55-year-old uncle last April really inspired Moore to take action.
"I wanted to do something to channel my energy and my family feelings of loss," she said. "I found out about this organization that does cancer research, medical breakthroughs for leukemia and also patient support."
Moore mentions that she joined this organization in late January of this year, and this is her first run for a cure she is participating in. She plans to participate in more in the future.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has a training program, which is made up of 150 participants in Sacramento including volunteers, coaches and honorees.
Moore meets with her mentor and her fellow participants on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings for some intense training and preparation.
"We are pushing about 30 miles a week in training," she said.
With all that training, Moore says her appetite sure has gone up.
But running and working out is nothing new to her; she has been in athletics for quite some time.
Moore says this program has a motto, which states, "If you think working out is hard, try chemotherapy."
"This saying is put into perspective and shows that if you think breaking a little sweat is hard try going through chemotherapy where your body is tormented," she said.
This motto really keeps all the participants motivated and encouraged to push for their goals and it helps many of them realize that even though all their training may be painful at times, it is nothing compared to what cancer patients have to go through on a daily basis.
Moore is not only working hard training in memory of her uncle, but she is also committed to training for an honoree, Abdul Kadir Sarani, who is in remission after battling hairy cell leukemia.
"I got a chance to meet Abdul and his family," she said. "They all are very kind, just a lovely family."
She looks forward to spending more time with the family in the future.
This program is full of people who are running in the memory and honor of someone with cancer, someone who has died of cancer, or for someone in the state of remission.
Aside from participating in this program, Moore has been active in many other organizations on and off campus as well.
Jenna Francisco, an English professor on campus is a member of the Social Responsibility Committee and says Moore is a fellow member of the committee also.
"She is very dedicated to the social justice of the environment, equal rights and the peace movement," said Francisco.
Francisco also says that Moore was the one responsible for the organization of the anniversary celebration of Brown vs. Board of Education.
"She brought in speakers from campus and also brought speakers from off campus as well," said Francisco.
Mathilde Mukantabana, a history professor on campus, agrees that Moore is very dedicated to promoting social justice.
"She was the first person to volunteer for the Save Darfur organization," said Mukantabana.
Mukantabana says that Moore is someone "we admire."
"She is a very nice colleague and just a great person to be around," she said.
Moore sincerely believes that all her fellow participants are "just very good-hearted people."
She says she has a list of people she is running in memory of, either people who have died of cancer, people who are living with cancer, or people who are in some state of remission.
"I am doing it all for them, this isn't about me," said Moore.
"Those are my people who I remember," she said. "I know this will be a great accomplishment because I am doing this for a wonderful cause."
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