About

THE RUN

On June 21st, The Million Dollar Marathon will begin it’s 4000 mile relay across America. The Team will be made up of all those that Cancer has touched. Survivors, Caregivers, Advocates, all working together to beat this disease. One marathon at a time, the event will cross 15 states and more than 500 communities as the baton is passed from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

During their journey, team members will run from Mount Rainier to the Great Salt Lake, over the Rockies to the Great Plains, on to the Appalachians and past the Chesapeake Bay. As they run, each day will turn to night and clear skies will fill with storms. Yet through the darkness and rain, their baton will not stop – because these runners know that dawn always follows night and that the darkest storms create the brightest rainbows.

As a member of The Million Dollar Marathon team, you will be dedicating one marathon, one day to the cause. Each day the team will run 4 marathons. In total we will run 160 marathons. During this extraordinary journey, we will take more than l0,000,000 steps. Ten million steps to honor the past and inspire the future. Ten million steps toward a cure.

THE PURPOSE

In the next year, nearly 600,000 people in America will die of cancer. The American Cancer Society has determined that one-third of these deaths are the result of poor diet and lack of exercise. The Million Dollar Marathon has been organized to educate the public about this issue through an event that is inspirational and motivational.

The Million Dollar Marathon is also working to raise funds for cancer research and programs that support cancer survivors and their families. To join the team, each runner has made a commitment to raise money for this cause. Those meeting certain fundraising criteria can qualify for some amazing incentive trips. There is no minimum requirement but together it is our goal to raise 1 million dollars. The team hopes to be able to make a significant contribution to the ongoing needs of our cancer communities.

ABOUT ABOVE + BEYOND CANCER

The Million Dollar Marathon is being organized and presented by Above + Beyond Cancer. Above + Beyond is a public charity that was organized in 2011 to elevate the lives of those touched by cancer. In 2013, the organization is focused on reducing new cancer cases and cancer recurrence through programs that emphasis diet and vigorous physical exercise.

Click Here For Runner/Event Brochure

 

Thank YOU,

Steve Cannon

40 Responses

  1. Jennifer Hess, on February 3, 2011 at 5:26 am said:

    I am interested in running. I lost my eldest brother to cancer and my best friend to lymphoma.

    Reply
    • Steve Cannon, on August 23, 2011 at 5:11 pm said:

      We are on for Lake Michigan…much more to follow…hope you can make it. Sorry to hear about your loss. We’ll run for them both

      Reply
  2. Dani, on January 4, 2012 at 1:12 am said:

    i 2011, I lost my godmother to brain tumor after an 18 month struggle, and only a two weeks later my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She did not even get a chance to fight and was gone within 3 weeks…I want to help fighting this most unpredictable and powerful beast. I am not an avid runner but want to become one…Please suggest options…

    Reply
    • Steve Cannon, on January 4, 2012 at 9:30 pm said:

      Dani….Sorry for your loss. Cancer sucks!! I hope you can join the run at any time. We’ll have people run a mile or two, 5 or a whole day. It’s a great environmet..the support vehicle is never far away. There will be ALOT of runners that first day at Navy Pier. Join us!!
      p.s. if you would like send photos and any words you’d like of your godmother and Mother and we’ll add them to our site (and also run a day in their honor). Keep in touch and spread the word!!

      Reply
  3. Sarah, on January 19, 2012 at 10:56 pm said:

    What an awesome initative! I will circulate this story to my friends and family. Good luck to you!!

    Reply
  4. Lisa L Ames-Kruse, on January 21, 2012 at 2:45 am said:

    My 46 year old sister in law is currently battling small cell carcinoma in her brain, lungs, liver and spine. I ran for her last year and it was very satisfying using my health to promote a cure for hers! Keep Running! God bless you! Kick cancer’s butt!

    Reply
    • Steve Cannon, on January 24, 2012 at 8:26 pm said:

      Lisa,
      Congrats to you for helping with your running and thanks for following us!! Hope to see you somewhere on the run!!

      Reply
  5. Rebecca, on January 21, 2012 at 6:43 am said:

    Very inspiring! I would love to run with you! Good for you for taking the initiative! Screw you cancer…you can’t take this smile from my face!

    Reply
    • Steve Cannon, on January 24, 2012 at 8:24 pm said:

      Come on with Rebecca …we’ll run like the wind!!! Bring all your running and non running peeps with ya!!!

      Reply
  6. Kazar, on January 24, 2012 at 12:25 pm said:

    Steve, I am considering joining you for a couple of days in the lower pennisula of Michigan. Somewhere around Traverse City or Frankfort. Will let you know when it gets a little closer. Nothing definite yet.

    Reply
  7. amy, on March 9, 2012 at 5:12 pm said:

    what time do you plan on starting your run at navy pier!?

    Reply
    • Steve Cannon, on March 9, 2012 at 5:25 pm said:

      We’ll start 9 am Sunday the 27th. We are organizing a opening day “run a mile or a marathon for someone you love” event. Stay tuned.c u there. Spread the word.thank you

      Reply
  8. Lance Bergeson, on March 13, 2012 at 2:15 am said:

    Steve,

    I’d like to talk to you about this run for a blog on the Des Moines Register’s site. Give me an email back at bergeson@dmreg.com. Thanks

    Lance

    Reply
  9. Jenna DeHayes, on April 6, 2012 at 2:54 am said:

    I am very inspired and will be there to run for my sister Jaime (30yrs old) who is suffering but fighting against colon/rectal cancer which has now attacked her lungs. she is a fighter and doesn’t care what the dr.s say..she is a fighter and wont give up. I will be joining to run for her and to fight for her and to give all my strength to her. Thank you Steve for starting this, I cant wait to be a part of this run. See you on May 27th!

    Reply
  10. Boundi, on April 7, 2012 at 12:36 am said:

    Wow! you are a true inspiration. My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon cancer in Aug 2011. His doctor estimated him to live about 6 months. It has now been about 9 months and he’s still living strong.

    I would love to run with you!Best of luck!

    Boundi

    Reply
  11. Vinod Patil, on May 1, 2012 at 1:56 am said:

    Very Inspiring, great work. Together we can beat the cancer :) . I cannot tell how much I love to join you but physical location makes it difficult. Lots of wishes from India.

    Reply
  12. Jim Pineau (@jimpineau), on May 1, 2012 at 8:03 pm said:

    Looking forward to seeing you, and running with you near Gladstone, MI.

    Reply
  13. Maria and Jeff, on May 25, 2012 at 11:43 pm said:

    Steve – We’re looking forward to kicking off the run with you! See you tomorrow night in Chicago! We believe in you and your mission! Jeff, Maria, Sela and Drake

    Reply
  14. Amy, on May 27, 2012 at 1:35 am said:

    I would love to run with you when you start tomorrow, Sunday, May 27! Is the plan still to start at 9am at Navy Pier? Do you have a designated meeting area once I arrive? Thanks Steve!

    Reply
  15. Leah, on May 28, 2012 at 12:47 pm said:

    I am interested in joining you a for a few miles for your run starting in Milwaukee. Do you have a meet/start time and place?

    Reply
  16. Mike, on May 29, 2012 at 3:24 pm said:

    Leah – if you get an idea of the route through Milwaukee, especially north of town, please post it. Thanks. – Mike

    Reply
    • Steve Cannon, on May 29, 2012 at 3:43 pm said:

      Hi Mike,
      Will do a little recon when we finish today..will try to find a trail we can run close to lake that stays parallel to the Lake..any input on that would be great..hoping there is bike trail along lake heading into and thru Milwaukee. Thx

      Reply
  17. Mike, on May 29, 2012 at 8:23 pm said:

    Unfortunately, there are not good lakefront running trails right alongside Milwaukee. Therefore, this explanation is somewhat completx. Here is a route that I think would work – this is more or less the Milwaukee Marathon route in reverse and it is the route that many bicyclists take when they go north. I am sort of doing this from memory, so check maps, Google Earth, etc.

    Starting where downtown Milwaukee meets the Lake (the iconic art museum), you get on Lincoln Memorial Drive north from downtown, pass beaches. Hugs lakefront.

    Lincoln Memorial becomes Lake Drive (Lake Drive is State Highway 32 but 35 mph speed limit) about 3-4 miles north of downtown (no longer hugs lakefront).

    Continue Lake Drive through northern suburbs (Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside). Mansions and other nice houses. Close to Lake with some vistas but mostly not.

    Continue to Bayside, which is about 11 miles north of downtown. In Bayside:

    - take Lake Drive (past stone gate with lions) (Lake Drive bends 90 degrees to west but you want to straight on Lake Drive, which becomes very residential). Stay on it for .4 mile or so

    - left on Fairy Chasm Road, stay on in for .6 mile or so

    - right on Sleepy Hollow for .1 mile
    - left on Laramie – stay on for .4 mile
    - right on Port Washington Road
    - right on Katherine Drive for .4 mile to Zedler
    - Zedler right (east) for .8 mile to Lake Shore Drive
    - Lake Shore Drive north toward Mequon
    - Lake Shore Road goes north for quite a ways, although the Milwaukee
    Marathon route goes off to the west

    There is a helpful map at the Milwaukee Marathon site: milwaukeelakefrontmarathon.org

    Good luck!

    Reply
  18. Sarah Worthman, on May 29, 2012 at 8:47 pm said:

    Patch.com would like to join your run when you get to the Milwaukee area and do a short Q&A to share how it’s going! Can we meet up with you? Looks like you’ll be coming through Milwaukee Wednesday? Thanks!!!!

    Reply
  19. Leah, on May 29, 2012 at 9:25 pm said:

    Oak leaf trail follows lakeshore. Also look at milwaukees lakefront marathon course which starts north of the city. U’d b running it in reverse.

    Reply
  20. Leah, on May 30, 2012 at 1:57 am said:

    In case you are looking for a trail/route when you hit the Manitowoc/Two Rivers portion of Lake Michigan. This is a great run route and I’ve trained on it. Restrooms along the way, beautiful scenery: http://www.tworiverseconomicdevelopment.org/images/bike%20trails.jpg

    And if you and your crew get hungry, the local favorite in Two Rivers (or Sturgeon Bay if you are running Door County)
    http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/284/1239617/restaurant/Sheboygan/Fatzos-Sub-Pizza-Shop-Two-Rivers

    Reply
  21. Stacy, on June 25, 2012 at 3:57 pm said:

    It’s now June 26, thirty days after you started. How is it going? Feeling good? Only ten days left!

    Reply
  22. Stacy, on June 25, 2012 at 3:58 pm said:

    BTW it is June 26th at 11:58 am here in Johnson City, TN.

    Reply
    • extremelyavg, on June 26, 2012 at 12:34 am said:

      Have you been reading the daily blog posts? I’ve written about every day he has been out there running. I think you would enjoy them. Click on the blog tab. :-)

      Reply
  23. Drew Sherman cell 740-973-1478, on June 26, 2012 at 4:53 pm said:

    I am close friends with Rich Berman from Grinnell and I believe we’ve met on RAGBRAI or Brrr ride in the past. I’ll be at my family’s summer home in Michiana Shores on the evening of July 3rd. I believe you are slated to be there that night. Please by all means let me know if you have plans that evevning or if you need a friendly place to stay. I hope to hear from you. We are at the lake by Lake Shore Drive and Shadow Trail directly on the border.

    Reply

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