Cancer Survivor Organizes 5k to Spread the Message: Get Checked and Get Active

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

Paulette Stallone refused to take her cancer diagnosis lying down. In fact, it made her take off running.

The 48-year-old mother of two was diagnosed with colorectal cancer four years ago, and even during the worst of her treatment, she was determined to stay active.

“When I didn’t want to do a run, my daughter would remind me that I don’t quit, and I would lace up, run, walk, throw up, and come back,” Stallone said. “And was so glad I did.”

As a fitness instructor and marathon runner, Stallone fundamentally understood the benefits of physical activity, and she began to encourage others in treatment to get moving.

“I would think, ‘If I can do it, others can,’” Stallone said. “So I would tell my chemo buddies to walk, and they did, and told me each time they went a bit further.”

Eventually, Stallone got the message every cancer patient dreams of: all clear.

“I am so thrilled to hear the words ‘cancer free,’” she said. “I made my doctor repeat it five times to me.” Despite the clean bill of health, Stallone still sees her oncologist every four months, and has a scan every six months.

Spurred by her own success –Stallone’s doctors initially worried about her running, but they tracked her progress and began to see improvement – she decided to broaden her motivational reach with Paulette’s Steps Toward Cancer Wellness 5k/1-mile Walk.

The fourth annual event, held April 21 drew close to 600 runners and walkers. The goal is simple: Education and motivation.

“I needed to tell people to go out and walk, run or do whatever form of exercise it was to help their mood, to help themselves,” Stallone said. “I needed people to be aware of their bodies and listen to them, and I felt this was the best way I can.”

At the 5k, Paulette urges everyone to “get checked.”

“They must go for colonoscopies,” she said. “This is such an important test. People, including me, are so afraid, but it must be done. And actually, the test itself is nothing.”

This year’s race in the history books, Paulette is already working ahead.

“My head is thinking already for next year’s race,” she said. She hopes the Fifth Annual Steps Toward Cancer Wellness will be the race everyone wants to run, and she hopes to see “the bib numbers to be in the thousands, and loads of [cancer] Survivors.”

For more information about Paulette and the Steps Toward Cancer Wellness 5k, click here.

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