Everyone is on some type of journey. Whether it be a journey of education, profession, living life to the fullest, health, figuring life out, or fighting for your life.
I don't actually know Megan Bugg. In fact if it weren't for social media, I wouldn't know Megan Bugg, her story, her battle, learn about her family, her community, see photos. Megan doesn't know who I am. But I'm part of Team Megan.
Megan's story is not one I can recount. It's one I can surmise and in brief: Megan is trying everyday to be a 14-year old girl who loves the color magenta, animals, is athletic, has a loving family and is battling cancer and trying to show cancer it messed with the wrong girl.
I can barely remember being 14. All I know is that I probably didn't love magenta, I've always loved animals, until recently I would never consider myself athletic (and question it now), my family has always been great, and battling cancer wasn't anywhere near my radar, my friends radar, anyone. The closest battle I knew of was my paternal grandfather losing his battle to Lung Cancer two days before my twelfth birthday. But being a 14 year old girl battling cancer day in and day out ... seems unfair. In fact, it seems unfair for anyone to have to do that. That might not be the most profound thing I've ever written, but it's true.
When an event for Megan was announced, it was a no brainer. I WAS IN. And to boot it was a 5k! My mom and dad were registered too, they were going to walk it, and I was going to run it. I met my parents at their house and we got everything together to head out. The 5k was in Coal City, IL which was about a 40 minute drive from my parents house. In the grand scheme of things, any distance was worth it. Just days prior to the 5k Megan had her 20 week PET scan and it came back clear, and her going through that meant I could get up at 5am to leave so I could get to my parents house early so we could get to the race on time.
I've done a 5k with a friend that was timed. I did a 5k I trained for that was part of my journey. I've done two fun 5k events; one with a friend and one with my mom. I hadn't done any racing for fundraising or causes. Needless to say I was excited. I was going to run and the event was timed. I was doing something for a cause. My parents were taking part in the event and if all had went well I would see them cross the finish line. But above all of that a group of people, Team Megan was joining together.
In all of our race updates it stated that local parking was limited, but 4 blocks away would have ample parking and that a bus service had volunteered their time to transport racers! Mom, Dad, and I got out and got ready. I already had my pink sparkly headband on, my pink polkadot sunglasses, I had pink sparkly nail polish, pink polka dot shorts, pink socks, and it just so happened I have pink running shoes. All that was left was to throw on my pink Team Megan Shirt.
We were off. I was lined up with the runners and we were running. A little over a quarter mile in I looked down at my watch and was pacing 7:56 a mile. I nearly came to a dead stop. WHAT? That's not me, and that's not what I've been running in preparation for upcoming events. I slowed my pace because I wanted to run the entire route. It was through surrounding neighborhoods, but I wanted to run it all, again in preparation for upcoming events on my calendar.
As I was passed, as I passed runners, we were a sea of pink. We were running through neighborhoods as 900+ strong.
Better than being a sea of pink running through neighborhoods as 900+ strong is being a sea of pink running through neighborhoods as 900+ strong as neighborhood residents sat in their yards, garages, driveways clapping and cheering, some with signs and balloons. To be a part of something that was imagined as so small that turned out to be so much more is truly an honor.
I ran for the entire race. This was the first time I ran a 5k by myself that was timed. I ran and finished in 32:08, I was the 181st person to cross the finish line and 11th out of 36 in my division. I had no shame, I was proud, I was happy, I did it. My parents finished as 381st and 382nd, walking the entire event. This was a big milestone for both of my parents. This was a new PR for my mom and my dad did his first 5k.
Megan had lead our race in the 'pace car' and after getting back to the start area she was escorted back home where she watched the race from the window. I was at the finish line and saw the last racer cross the line. That last racer got as many cheers as every racer to cross before them. The group was amazing, we all joined for one cause, one person.
Megan is still going through treatment daily, and while it would probably become difficult, I'd run a 5k daily for her. Head to toe pink, or whatever other color she wanted, I'd do it. This isn't the end of her, but with Team Megan behind her, she continues to show cancer it messed with the wrong girl.
I don't actually know Megan Bugg. In fact if it weren't for social media, I wouldn't know Megan Bugg, her story, her battle, learn about her family, her community, see photos. Megan doesn't know who I am. But I'm part of Team Megan.
Megan's story is not one I can recount. It's one I can surmise and in brief: Megan is trying everyday to be a 14-year old girl who loves the color magenta, animals, is athletic, has a loving family and is battling cancer and trying to show cancer it messed with the wrong girl.
I can barely remember being 14. All I know is that I probably didn't love magenta, I've always loved animals, until recently I would never consider myself athletic (and question it now), my family has always been great, and battling cancer wasn't anywhere near my radar, my friends radar, anyone. The closest battle I knew of was my paternal grandfather losing his battle to Lung Cancer two days before my twelfth birthday. But being a 14 year old girl battling cancer day in and day out ... seems unfair. In fact, it seems unfair for anyone to have to do that. That might not be the most profound thing I've ever written, but it's true.
When an event for Megan was announced, it was a no brainer. I WAS IN. And to boot it was a 5k! My mom and dad were registered too, they were going to walk it, and I was going to run it. I met my parents at their house and we got everything together to head out. The 5k was in Coal City, IL which was about a 40 minute drive from my parents house. In the grand scheme of things, any distance was worth it. Just days prior to the 5k Megan had her 20 week PET scan and it came back clear, and her going through that meant I could get up at 5am to leave so I could get to my parents house early so we could get to the race on time.
I've done a 5k with a friend that was timed. I did a 5k I trained for that was part of my journey. I've done two fun 5k events; one with a friend and one with my mom. I hadn't done any racing for fundraising or causes. Needless to say I was excited. I was going to run and the event was timed. I was doing something for a cause. My parents were taking part in the event and if all had went well I would see them cross the finish line. But above all of that a group of people, Team Megan was joining together.
In all of our race updates it stated that local parking was limited, but 4 blocks away would have ample parking and that a bus service had volunteered their time to transport racers! Mom, Dad, and I got out and got ready. I already had my pink sparkly headband on, my pink polkadot sunglasses, I had pink sparkly nail polish, pink polka dot shorts, pink socks, and it just so happened I have pink running shoes. All that was left was to throw on my pink Team Megan Shirt.
We all got settled and before we headed off to walk 4 blocks (we were getting ready to do a 5k, 4 blocks was a good warm up!) ... I wanted to take a photo of my parents and I. No one else was around and I tried the 'selfie' of the three of us.
I said I TRIED the 'selfie' on us, not that I was successful. My dad does have an entire head, not a half.
Once we got to the start area we were surrounded by pink. It was everywhere. It was amazing to see. When Team Megan had the idea of the race they hoped to maybe get 200-500 people out. The race started late because people were still joining on race day making the total over 900 people strong. As we waited to start I began to get warm wearing a cotton tshirt, which is not my usual warm weather running apparel. Unfortunately I had to ditch my Team Megan shirt, and fortunately for me my parents were walking and offered to carry my shirt for me.
The local fire department had two trucks, one with raised ladder and both an American Flag and a Team Megan flag. The race announcer got our attention and said Megan was on her way. Here was a girl battling cancer who is weak, lacks an appetite, and is now under 100 pounds, just trying to be a normal 14 year old girl ... getting screams and claps and we were all there for her. It was really moving. The local High School Madrigal group sang the National Anthem, and after some announcing and talking we were lined up and ready to go. I had a smile on my face, I was going to do this because right now Megan couldn't, but she will as soon as she beats cancer.
As I was passed, as I passed runners, we were a sea of pink. We were running through neighborhoods as 900+ strong.
Better than being a sea of pink running through neighborhoods as 900+ strong is being a sea of pink running through neighborhoods as 900+ strong as neighborhood residents sat in their yards, garages, driveways clapping and cheering, some with signs and balloons. To be a part of something that was imagined as so small that turned out to be so much more is truly an honor.
I ran for the entire race. This was the first time I ran a 5k by myself that was timed. I ran and finished in 32:08, I was the 181st person to cross the finish line and 11th out of 36 in my division. I had no shame, I was proud, I was happy, I did it. My parents finished as 381st and 382nd, walking the entire event. This was a big milestone for both of my parents. This was a new PR for my mom and my dad did his first 5k.
Megan had lead our race in the 'pace car' and after getting back to the start area she was escorted back home where she watched the race from the window. I was at the finish line and saw the last racer cross the line. That last racer got as many cheers as every racer to cross before them. The group was amazing, we all joined for one cause, one person.
Megan is still going through treatment daily, and while it would probably become difficult, I'd run a 5k daily for her. Head to toe pink, or whatever other color she wanted, I'd do it. This isn't the end of her, but with Team Megan behind her, she continues to show cancer it messed with the wrong girl.
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