Angela Sessions had three extremely significant reasons that motivated her to raise over $3,300 for the 3rd Annual FILA City Challenge 5k/10k walk and run: the loss of three family members to this disease over the past ten years.
I first lost my grandmother to this disease after a painful 6 month battle,” Angela explains. “Over 5 years ago I lost my father to the same cancer and in October of last year, I lost my mother who bravely fought pancreatic cancer for ten months.
Sessions, a resident of Oakland, CA, did not even know there was a grand prize for most pledges earned when she signed up for the FILA City Challenge. She mailed a letter to her friends and family that briefly gave some statistics on pancreatic cancer, and also explained how the disease has affected her. Describing the loss of her parents and grandmother, Sessions writes, “In each of their cases the discovery of this cancer was a death sentence and a painful family loss. It is due to this loss that I have chosen the FILA City Challenge as a forum to raise money to fight this most hideous of life taking cancers.”
Sessions’ letter clearly made an impact on the many people who received it. In just one month she received $3,300 worth of pledges, which she hand delivered when she flew to Los Angeles to participate in the run. After the race, Angela was surprised when she was announced as the Grand Prizewinner of the pledge contest. Sessions received two round-trip airline tickets to anywhere in the U.S., courtesy of Southwest Airlines. We are hoping she will use them to fly back to LA next year, for the 4th Annual FILA City Challenge.
In honor of her parents and grandmother, Angela found the motivation to reach her fundraising goal and complete the FILA Challenge 5k/10k. Her letter clearly made an impact on her community because she raised over $3,300 worth of pledges! She successfully met her goals, paid tribute to her family, and put one foot in front of the other to finish the race., demonstrating her commitment to never give up!