All proceeds from the race help support student cancer research at BYU's Simmons Center for Cancer Research. Lee Memorial Run for Cancer Research fires on Saturday, March 7, many of the expected 2500 participants will be running not only for themselves, but also in honor of someone who has battled cancer. The Rex Lee Run, now in it’s twentieth year, has become one of the largest student-run tradit
ions on the Brigham Young University campus, and all proceeds go directly to cancer research. Runners look forward to a good time, medals for winners in each age category, free food after the race, and the opportunity for all in attendance to win one of the many prizes in the annual drawing. Participants in the race are given the opportunity to wear a small placard bearing a name of a cancer fighter, either someone they themselves know, or a name submitted by a member of the community. A ten dollar donation is required for each name honored, and the placard may be kept as a keepsake. The “Honor a Cancer Fighter” campaign was begun by Dr. Daniel Simmons, director of BYU’s Cancer Research Center, and his wife, after they saw a similar process taking place at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Run in Washington D.C. “We were very moved to see so many people honoring those who had fought this disease, and felt that it was an idea which would be embraced by the people of this community,” remarks Dr. Simmons. Simmons’ wife, Trudy, who lost her father to cancer in 1997, agrees, and says that they were overwhelmed by the response upon launching the campaign. “We were very gratified to hear from so many people. Many of them voluntarily included notes telling of their dealings with cancer, either their own or a loved one’s, and it was very moving to hear people’s stories. I think it somehow makes one feel less alone to know that others are having similar experiences.”
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