November's Most Inspiring Member: Apryl Wagner

Hastings member Apryl Wagner joined Moms on the Run in 2013 to train and stay in shape for the annual fitness test she endures as a member of the 133rd airlift wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard. What she didn’t realize is that it would be therapy for another major battle she’d endure, as well.

The entire time Apryl has been running with Moms on the Run, her son Josh was fighting cancer. In 2012, he was diagnosed at the age of 20 with Ewing Sarcoma — a cancer that often occurs in and around the bones. After nine months of treatment and nine months of remission, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. After eight months of treatment for lung cancer, he went into remission for two and a half years. This past January, cancer hit again when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Sadly, he lost his courageous fight on July 10 at the age of 25. When her Moms on the Run group came to class the next day grieving for Apryl and her family, they were shocked when Apryl showed up to run.
 
“Running is an outlet for me,” shared Apryl. “It’s my release of tension and stress. Right after Josh’s death, we were surrounded by so many people. I needed to go to class; it was part of my routine and therapy to have something to do.”
 
Apryl is turning 50 this coming year, and she recently exceeded her military physical fitness goal with a score of 97.7%.
 
“To me, Moms on the Run has been first and foremost, accountability,” Apryl asserts. “At the same time it allows me to reach personal gains and I love that you can start at any fitness level. There is no judging. You can be yourself.”
 
Thank you, Apryl, for your strong work ethic and positive attitude every time you show up to class, thank you for your 21 years of service to our country, and thank you to your son, Josh, for being an inspiration to so many in the Hastings community.