An Orcutt mother-and-daughter team is undertaking a challenging journey to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
For both members of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District family, the 13.1 mile St. Jude Memphis Marathon will be personal.
“You may see me struggle,’’ said Lori Cook, who works at the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Office, “but you will never see me quit. I have five grandbabies and they are all healthy and we have been fortunate. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience that joy.’’
Cook’s daughter, Ashly Copenhaver, who graduated from Righetti High School in 2004, and will become an RN in December, could not agree more. Her desire to help those in need comes from caring for children battling cancer at UC Davis Medical Center while she attended college.
“Being involved in the care of a child fighting for his or her life is both terrifying and beyond humbling,” Copenhaver said.
She hopes that through supporting the mission of St. Jude Children’s Hospital that she can help bring awareness to pediatric cancer within her own community. The money she and her mother raise goes not only toward funding research that is shared throughout the entire oncology community, but also to help pay for transportation, lodging, and food to ensure that a sick child is never separated from his or her family.
Copenhaver points out that “these past few years our community has seen its youth affected by cancer, and I’m excited to help fight for the treatment and care they deserve.”
Since August, the dynamic duo has been pumping out the miles and watching what they eat. They average more than 30 miles a week around town. The race is scheduled for Dec. 5 in Memphis, Tenn.
To support their efforts, donations can be made by visiting stjudemarathon.org/fundraising. Click “Donate to a Hero” and search for Cook’s and Copenhaver’s names.
This article appears in Oct 1-8, 2015.