Lynne’s Laps for Love is named in honor of the strongest woman I know, my mother, Lynne Devine. In December of 2010 our entire family was rocked by the news that the healthiest woman we knew was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. Saying that we were devastated is an understatement. Over the next 8 months the out pouring of love & support was truly remarkable. We could not help but feel truly blessed to have the amazing support system in family & friends, along with the best health care possible.

With members of our family flying in from all over the country, including myself, we have been very fortunate to have my cousin Laura helping to make sure everything runs smoothly in Milwaukee. Last year we were able to get about 25 family members and friends walking/running in custom t-shirts with our team name on it. This year, we have decided to challenge our team to be as creative as possible & wear as much teal as we can! We also hope to have at least 30 people on our team this year!

We hope to continue to walk/run for many years to come to not only honor my mother but also to honor all of the strong and incredible women who came before her and who continue to fight.

Thank you, Ellen!

Reminder that teams of 10 or more participants registered by May 29th receive a discounted registration rate-only $18 per person!

Like many of us, Trae and Jessica have been affected by ovarian cancer. They feel strongly about a healthy lifestyle and are very passionate about running. We are honored to have their support!

New this year, runners/walkers can pick up their registration packets early at PRO’s Shorewood location on Friday, June 1.

Let’s get to know Trae.

Denielle knows my cousin, and somehow the topic came up for sponsorship.  He encouraged her to call us, and when she did we jumped on the opportunity.  Besides our personal involvement with Jessica’s mother, we always try to promote local races as much as we can.  Getting people out running is awesome, but getting them running for a cause is even better!    We can help raise money for a great cause and hopefully get people motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Tell us about what you will be doing with Laura’s Smile Mile.

We are going to be giving away gift certificates for the top 3 finishers in the mens and women’s races.  We provided all of the race numbers, and will be hosting a packet pickup at our temporary Shorewood location on the Friday before the race.

We are going to be opening the biggest specialty running store in the area in Shorewood in August.  It will have a running track in it to try on spikes and shoes.  It will be twice as big as any of our other stores.  We are super excited!

Thanks, Trae!

Participants can pick up registration packets at the Performance Running Outfitters Shorewood location 4401 N. Oakland Ave on June 1st 11am-8pm. Check out their website here.

As a company of about 50 people, with 30+ local employees, we at Penworthy enjoy finding opportunities to participate in events that benefit our community and foster our team environment.  Many at Penworthy, myself included, have been actively working to live a more healthy lifestyle.  When I heard of this event, I thought this would be a great chance to get everyone together to show our team spirit to benefit a great local organization, while also getting a little exercise!

The name Penworthy came into existence in the early 1980s as a publisher of a limited number of books for children.  We later revived the name to join together an association of various children’s book distribution companies into a single, recognizable brand.  For the past 30 years, the name Penworthy has grown to represent a company that focuses on providing exceptional personalized service to librarians around the country and on delivering high-quality products that our customers can trust.  Our primary goal is to make buying children’s books the pleasure it ought to be ^®

Our team of 18 runners and walkers will consist of Penworthy employees and their friends and families.  As our team began to amass, I heard personal stories involving ovarian cancer.  It was striking to me how many women are affected by ovarian cancer, but how little we hear about it – it truly is the silent killer.   I’m glad that we have such a wonderful group of men and women who are able to participate to show their support!  We will have team t-shirts to represent our team spirit and commitment to bringing awareness to the community.

Thanks, Stephanie!

Teams that have registered by May 15 will have their team names published on the Laura’s Smile Mile website. Reminder that teams of 10 or more participants registered by May 29th receive a discounted registration rate-only $18 per person!

Tell me about yourself and why you created a team to run/walk Laura’s Smile Mile.

My involvement in Laura’s Smile Mile started as a favor to a friend a few years ago, which is sad because my grandmother died of ovarian cancer.  Even given this family history I didn’t know many of the signs and “whispers” until the education that Laura’s Smile Mile provided me.  From the time my daughter ran her first Giggle Gallop she has been learning the lesson to listen to what her body is telling her, as well as the audacity of hope and what that can bring to a person’s life.  The opportunity for her to be involved in this race; knowing what she has internalized about life,  how to live it and how to stand up for her own body and health has made me forever grateful to Laura’s Smile Foundation.  Whatever level of involvement I have, it will never be enough to repay these life lessons taught to my little girl.  It continues to be one of my husband and my favorite charities throughout the year- so don’t just think of the Foundation at race time!!

What is the story behind the name, “Team Novo”?

We work with Cassie Simpson one of the co-founders of Laura’s Smile Foundation at The Novo Group. Each year many of us participate, but it has always seemed a little sporadic. Since we started participating as individuals it has become apparent how many of us have been touched by ovarian cancer- and the number is shocking.   Forming a team seemed like the right thing to do.  It seemed as though it would inspire greater participation, and with greater participation there will be more awareness and more funds for research- which is all of our ultimate goal!  And such a great opportunity for a team building event- it was a win-win for everyone!!
How many people will be participating with the team? Will you be doing something special like team t-shirts, signs,etc.?

We will have a team of approximately 20, unless I can do some pretty big coaxing in the next few weeks!  We have nothing formalized yet for our team, but with our creative bunch I wouldn’t be surprised if we come up with something fabulous, funny, or both.
Anything else you would like to add?

Go Team Novo!!
Thanks, Mary!

Teams that have registered by May 15 will have their team names published on the Laura’s Smile Mile website. Reminder that teams of 10 or more participants registered by May 29th receive a discounted registration rate-only $18 per person!

Krisi and Isabella

Tell me about yourself and why you created a team to run/walk Laura’s Smile Mile.

In July 2011 at the age of 27, while carrying her second child, Krisi Button was diagnosed with stage 1 Ovarian Cancer. She underwent chemo and surgery while pregnant and then delivered her daughter, Isabella 6 weeks early to continue treatment. Krisi completed treatment in March 2012 and is currently cancer free. Isabella is now 7 months old and healthy.

What is the story behind the name, “Button’s Bevy: Direct Supply”?

Several friends and co-workers from Direct Supply put together Button’s Bevy (bevy: a group in close association) as a way to show their support for Krisi while she underwent treatment. We participated in our first Ovarian Cancer walk in September 2011 and are planning to do 2 more in 2012.

We are expecting 20-30 participants on our team as well as several donations from other supporters, including Direct Supply. We had team shirts made that we’ll be wearing for this walk.

Thank you, Megan!

Teams that have registered by May 15 will have their team names published on the Laura’s Smile Mile website. Reminder that teams of 10 or more participants registered by May 29th receive a discounted registration rate-only $18 per person!

Thanks, Arlene!

Teams that have registered by May 15 will have their team names published on the Laura’s Smile Mile website. Reminder that teams of 10 or more participants registered by May 29th receive a discounted registration rate-only $18 per person!

Tell me about yourself and why you created a team to run/walk Laura’s Smile Mile.

I am 30 years old and have been married to my high school sweetheart, Paul for 8 years now.  We have a 3 1/2 year old daughter, Marlie Hope (we chose Hope in honor of my mother-in-law, Sharon, who always said, “Never Lose Hope”).  We are also expecting another child in September and have a 3.5 lbs yorkie, Bella.  I’m not sure if any of that info matters though as my sister-in-law, Becky, is actually the one that started our team.  She lost her mother to Ovarian Cancer in June 2009, at age 53.  When Becky heard about this wonderful walk supporting ovarian cancer awareness, she emailed our family right away.   Since my husband and I lived in Milwaukee for 10 years, we were able to get a group together as many of our friends were thrilled to be a part of something so special.  They also loved my mother-in-law Sharon dearly.  So I guess you could say it was a team effort between my sister-in-law and I that created “Pennies for Grandma” :) When my mother-in-law was diagnosed in 2007, she was sadden to find out that there was such little awareness about Ovarian Cancer.  She did everything she could to ”spread the word”, even if it only affected one family.  We knew that if she were still here with us today, she would be walking there with us supporting and encouraging other families.

What is the story behind the name, “Pennies for Grandma”?

My mother-in-law, Sharon Kieckhafer, always found a way to smile.  For years and years, whenever she would find a penny, it would make her day (as simple as it is).  All of her family and friends knew this about her. To this day, when anyone finds a penny, we know that is her way of reminding us that she is right there with us.  We have found pennies in such unusual places or during times that we are celebrating something special or even when we are nervous/scared about something.  I keep one of the many special pennies I’ve found, in my car with me and another sitting by our kitchen sink as a reminder to always smile and find something good in the day.

Sharon Kieckhafer

Here are a few other examples:

1. My family attended my daughters 1st Holiday Christmas Program in a huge auditorium at a high school.  When we sat down, right by our foot was a penny, even though there were hundreds of open seats.  It gave us chills knowing she was there and didn’t want to miss out on her 1st grand-daughters program.

2. When Sharons best friend found a penny the day after her daughter had a positive pregnancy test, she knew everything would be good this pregnancy after 3 years of trying and 3 miscarriages.  Her daughter is 26 weeks now and everything has been perfect thus far.

3. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law drove 5 hours to Minnesota to try a round of In-Vitro.  They were worried and stressed…hoping and praying that everything would go well .  As my sister-in-law opened the car door and stepped out, there was a penny.   They knew right then and there, that there was nothing to worry about….Sharon would be watching over them.  Their 2nd son, Nolan (my nephew), arrived healthy 9 months later.

4. My father-in-law was packing for his trip to Florida and as he opened a storage bin to pack his stuff, there was a penny.  He knew that this was my mother-in-law in saying, ”I will be right there with you”

5. My sister-in-law & brother-in law visited my father-in-law in Florida.  After they left, my father-in-law started washing towels and there was a penny laying in the bottom of wash machine.  It was my mother-in-laws way of saying. “I was there with you guys the whole time”.

She looked forward to becoming a grandma after many many years of patiently waiting and to this day, whenever the grandkids find a penny, they know it was sent from Grandma up in heaven.  Marlie (3.5 yrs old), Mason (2.5 yrs old), Nolan (5 months old) and a 4th on the way.

One of her famous sayings was, “There is something good in everyday….look for it and embrace it”.  I live my life everyday by these powerful words

How many people will be participating with the team? Will you be doing something special like team t-shirts, signs,etc.?

We should have 15 adults and 7 kids (at minimum).  Since last year was our first year, we don’t have special shirts made, but we certainly hope to do something special in the upcoming years.   We will be wearing as much teal as we can (and possibly picture pins of my mother-in-law).

I want to take a moment to THANK YOU and the other coordinators for making this event possible each year.  Our family is from Oshkosh, so many of us will be traveling to attend this event and hope to continue doing so for many many more years to come.  It means a great deal to us and we know that my mother-in-law will be there right at our side walking with us.  She beat breast cancer several years ago and when she found out she had Ovarian Cancer, she never once gave up or thought about herself.  She did everything she could to educate as many women and families as she could.  She had a huge heart, always someone that could cheer you up and was one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met!  She always had a special saying, quote or poem for everything and everyone.  Anyone that met her, loved her!  She touched so many lives!!!  I feel very fortunate to have had her in my life for 13 years and to have had a mother-in-law that I could truly call my “second mom”.  We all miss her dearly!!!

As you can see, I could talk about her for hours, days, and even weeks on end!!!  She was such an incredible person!

Thank you, Lindsay!