Dave's Birthday 50K to Help Betsy Beat Cancer

THE WHAT:

On Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, I’ll be running the Marine Corps Marathon 50K (31.07 miles) – my first ultramarathon.

THE WHY:

To support my friend, Betsy Torres, who has been battling breast cancer. My run will both raise funds to help pay some medical bills and ease her financial stress of fighting breast cancer, as well as provide moral support and strength during her journey. I also want to show people that they are strong enough to overcome any challenge they might face.

THE WHO:

Betsy became friends with my wife, Angie, during their time in college. Before her sophomore year – less than a month before 9/11 – Betsy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after feeling a call to serve her country. In 2003, while she was still in school, her unit was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She supported her unit stateside while completing training, graduating with her class in 2004 and preparing for her own deployment to Iraq in 2005. Betsy was humble and proud to have served in the Marine Corps for a total of eight years and pushed onward to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

After departing the service, Betsy began a career as a civil servant, working in various roles with the U.S. Dept. of Defense, the FBI and the State Dept. for nearly a decade in Washington, D.C. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology while working fulltime. Additionally, Betsy served as a volunteer for numerous charity organizations including Toys for Tots, YMCA STORER Camp, the American Cancer Society, Make-a-Wish Foundation, several veterans organizations and Camp Catch A Rainbow, which helped children find joy and normalcy during their own battles with cancer. Betsy eventually moved to Tampa, FL and became a high school teacher. Then in 2018, she moved to Houston, TX to teach 7th and 8th grade.

I met Betsy after Angie and I began dating in 2009. Since then, we’ve run a bunch of 5K races together and she helped me to cheer on Angie in the DC Nike Women’s Half Marathon. Betsy is the godmother of our oldest daughter who lovingly refers to her as “Aunt Betsy.” She has become part of our extended family.

BETSY’S CANCER STORY:

In the fall of 2021, Betsy discovered a lump in her breast. After a biopsy, she was diagnosed with triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. (Triple-negative cancer is aggressive and unpredictable.) She began the first of 12 rounds of chemotherapy in January 2022. At the conclusion, she had a double mastectomy to remove the cancer. Betsy initially continued to work through her chemo treatments, taking very little time off from teaching, but eventually needed to take a leave from her job – which meant receiving a reduced salary.

Betsy's Motto: "We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey." -Annabelle Matthews

WHY THE RUN:

I never had any desire to run an ultramarathon. Ironically, on the day of Betsy’s birthday this year, I learned that the 2022 Marine Corps Marathon will be held on my birthday (and during Breast Cancer Awareness Month). The birthday connections, plus the fact that Betsy – a Marine vet – was in the midst of her toughest challenge yet, seemed like the universe’s way of encouraging me to do this to support her. However, registration for the Marine Corps Marathon was full. Spots were only available in the 10K and the 50K. With all that Betsy has been through, I figured that putting my body through a 31-mile run to support her was a challenge that didn’t compare to what she’s faced, but was worth doing.

All funds raised will go directly to paying for medical expenses related to treatment, alternative therapies for pain management and general household expenditures.

9/24 UPDATE: Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we raised $1,000 in just 10 days! I am incredibly grateful to everyone who donated. With more than a month until race day, I've increased the campaign's original goal.

10/16 UPDATE: I am touched and humbled by the immense generosity of our donors. Since I will be running 31.07 miles two weeks from today, the new goal for this fundraiser is $3,107. WE CAN DO IT!

I encourage you to support Betsy and me in any way you are able -- whether that's making a monetary donation on this page, posting your well-wishes to Betsy or sending messages to cheer me on in my run. Any and all forms of generosity are greatly appreciated!

Donation amounts to consider:

$31.07 >> $1/mile run in the race

$39 >> in celebration of my 39th birthday

$50 >> $1/km run in the race

Click here for the Marine Corps Marathon 50K race day details.