MOMS ON THE RUN

Our October 2016 KIND Most Inspiring Member is Mindi, in her fourth year with Woodbury (MN) Moms on the Run.

Mindi completed the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon -- her first 26.2 miler -- on Oct. 9, 2016. But crossing the finish line symbolized so much more than what’s typically involved in completing a marathon.

The date of Oct. 9 also marked the one-year anniversary of Mindi's lumpectomy, when her battle with cancer was just beginning. She was among the nearly 250,000 women in the United States who reported new cases of breast cancer last year. After her diagnosis and surgery, her fitness journey was forced to make space to accommodate chemotherapy and radiation.

"Mindi continued to show up to each Moms on the Run class," says Woodbury teammate Reagan. "During this time, she never complained, remained positive, and showed more concern for her friends than for herself."

Throughout the chemo and radiation treatments, Mindi would run/walk the MOTR training intervals and rarely missed an indoor strength training class during the winter, according to Woodbury head coach Kristina Ticknor. Teammates showed up for Mindi, too. They used the popular meal giving platform, “Meal Train,” to organize and deliver dinners when she was too sick to cook, presented her with a package of different hats to wear as she lost her hair, and even raised enough money to pay for a weekly house-cleaning service during the depths of chemo.

As her body regained strength, Mindi returned to pick right up where she left off with Moms on the Run class. On Mother’s Day, she and her teammates ran in the Susan G. Komen Twin Cities Race for the Cure. Then, once Mindi noticed the date of the 2016 Twin Cities Marathon and recognized it's significance, she decided to go for it.

"She is mentally and physically the toughest person we know," Reagan says. "She continually inspires us to embrace life and keep on running."

Mindi reminds all of us to remain extra vigilant in efforts to detect breast cancer early. "Moms, please remember to do your self-exams!" she says.

Congratulations, Mindi, on all of your milestones this month and during the past year! You continue to inspire us.