Kicking Butt to Save Yours

Lauren Holder, a wife and priest-in-training from New York, is kicking her butt to save yours at the 2012 New YorkCity Marathon coming up on November 4. She set up an online fundraising page, and is raising money for Get Your Rear in Gear in memory of her friend Aimee Norman, who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at the age of 43. Aimee lost her battle with cancer this spring but her spirit lives on in her husband, their two daughters, and her many friends and admirers.

Aimee’s passion was to help the poor and to change the world one hug, meal, mission trip, poverty simulation, habitat house, and iced coffee at a time.  Her selfless and carefree spirit motivated others to make a difference in their communities. Lauren hopes that spirit will inspire others to give.

Lauren ran her first half-marathon in 2009, where she wrote the names of thirteen people she was grateful for on her arm in order to motivate herself to run thirteen miles. Aimee was the first name on her list, which gave her the willpower to finish the race. To insure that she finishes the New York Marathon in November, Lauren’s husband, Jason, has been coach her through her training. On June 10, Lauren, Jason and a couple of friends used the Get Your Rear in Gear – New York City as a training run. The foursome ran the a 4-mile Run/Walk around Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in their underwear (no word yet on if they plan to run the marathon in the same!).

Lauren chose to raise money for Get Your Rear in Gear because Aimee was diagnosed with colon cancer well before the doctor recommended age to get screened. Colon cancer is affecting younger and younger victims and Lauren is passionate about getting the word out.

To read more about Lauren’s story, see additional photos and to help Lauren reach her goal of $5000 for the Colon Cancer Coalition / Get Your Rear in Gear, please visit her Crowdrise page.

Article written by Allie Davis, Get Your Rear in Gear contributor