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Motherwalk
Stacy and Todd Miner and their children hold a photo of Stacy’s sister, Brittany, who passed away from ovarian cancer at age 24. The Miners, Edgewood residents, will participate in Motherwalk in Homewood in her memory this month. Photo by Madoline Markham.
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Motherwalk
Stacy and Todd Miner and their children hold a photo of Stacy’s sister, Brittany, who passed away from ovarian cancer at age 24. The Miners, Edgewood residents, will participate in Motherwalk in Homewood in her memory this month. Photo by Madoline Markham.
Early in 2006, Brittany Waldrep started having stomach problems. She was screened for ovarian cancer with the only tool available, a CA 125 blood test, and her results were normal.
That May she and her sisters participated in Motherwalk to raise money for ovarian cancer, since two years before she’d had an ovarian cyst and was being monitored every three months for cancer. Two weeks later she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer herself. Two months later it took her life. She was 24.
“That’s what a lot of people don’t know about ovarian cancer — how sneaky it is,” said Stacy Miner, Waldrep’s sister.
Waldrep was diagnosed in exploratory surgery, at which time doctors discovered the cancer had spread throughout her abdomen.
Each year since 2006, Stacy, her husband, Todd, and their children have participated in Motherwalk in Waldrep’s memory. Pictures of those who have had ovarian cancer line the walk route, and each year the Miners pass Brittany’s.
This year the event is moving even closer to their Edgewood home. The run will begin at Homewood Central Park instead of Crestline Village, where it had previously been held.
“After a great deal of discussion, we decided to move Motherwalk 2015 to Homewood so that we could bring awareness about ovarian cancer to another part of Birmingham,” said Susan Greene, executive director of the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. “Also, we had started outgrowing the space in Crestline and we felt Homewood Park would be a great place — same great race, all new place. Homewood has a warm community atmosphere much like Crestline, the route is relatively flat and the neighborhood is welcoming and safe.”
Greene said her favorite part of the event is celebrating the lives of women and families that have been touched by ovarian cancer.
“It pays tribute to the courageous women who have passed their battle on to us,” she said.
Stacy said it’s the survivors who stand out most to her during Motherwalk.
“There are not a lot of survivors out there, but it warms my heart to see survivors at the walk,” Stacy said.
The Miners said the event is very family friendly with a kids’ fun run, inflatables, music, food and drinks. Oftentimes you see moms pushing strollers and kids on scooters in the walk, while faster runners stay at the front of the pack.
Todd said he is going to encourage his neighbors to participate this year. They already run around Edgewood streets, after all.
The Miners also initiated creating a car tag for ovarian cancer. Last year the tags, which cost $50 each, raised $80,000. Of the price, $41.35 goes to gynecological oncology research at UAB.
“It has a twofold purpose,” Todd said. “It’s the best advertisement we have.”
On May 9, the Motherwalk 5K begins at 8 a.m., and the 1-Mile Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. An awards ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Pre-race packet pickup will be Wednesday, May 6, from 4-7 p.m. at the Trak Shack and Friday, May 8, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Homewood Central Park. Registration is $35 for the 5K or for the Fun Run, and both are free for ovarian cancer survivors. To register an individual or team, visit motherwalk.com.