Remembering Mindi: March's Inspiring Member of the Month

Mindi, bottom right, with some of her MOTR teammates.

Woodbury's Mindi Dupont was a true Moms on the Run ambassador: A member for 10 years, she loved to run and she loved her team.

​Mindi's journey the last seven years was not an easy one. In October 2015, Mindi was diagnosed with breast cancer. Exactly one year later, she finished her first marathon – crossing the finish line of the Twin Cities Marathon — cancer free. That same month, we featured her as our Inspiring Member. (Read that article here.)

In Fall 2020, Mindi's breast cancer returned, and on Feb. 25, she crossed life's finish line. Her life is marked by her profound optimism, love of life, God and her family, willingness to bring someone their favorite baked treat, and for being an avid runner and ultimate teammate — making her "MOTR girls" (as she would refer to them) an extension of her family. 

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Mindi and team at finish of NYC Marathon.

In January 2020, Mindi joined a Relay for Life fundraiser. She wrote: "As you might not know, my parents had different forms of cancer which eventually took their lives and they have since passed away. Not a time passes when I meet someone that has/had or knows someone with cancer. It touches all of our lives. With my #1 support group, Woodbury Moms on the Run, they have inspired me to join Relay For Life." In addition, she ran the New York City Marathon just three months shy of her passing for Team The Pink Agenda, the official charity partner raising money for breast cancer research. 

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Coach Kristina giving Mindi a hug at the finish of her first marathon.

Those fundraisers embody Mindi's giving spirit; she is remembered for doing so much for other people, not complaining about her own hardships.

​"She was a true angel and an absolute MOTR Ambassador," Woodbury Franchise Owner and Head Coach Kristina Ticknor shared. "Today God took an angel back. The girl who is the epitome of resilience and determination has gone home. She has run her race and run it hard. Mindi, every life you were a part of was more joyous, kind and full of light because you were in it. You always helped us to remember to enjoy every mile, we can do hard things and always to stop for a pastry. I am a better coach, mom, wife and friend because of you. Your MOTR [team] will continue to run on with you always by our sides."

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Moms on the Run is honored to have been an important part of Mindi's story. She definitely represented well a life lived "MOTRstrong."

“I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Mindi from our Moms on the Run family," reflected Karissa Johnson, Founder and CEO of Moms on the Run. "The way she inspired her teammates and the greater MOTR community, and the way her fellow runners surrounded her with love and support demonstrate everything that Moms on the Run is about. She will be truly missed and will continue to make an impact even though she is no longer with us here on earth. My greatest sympathies go out to her family and to her Woodbury team.”

One of Mindi's favorite places was New York City. Despite her cancer diagnosis, Mindi's dream was to run the NYC Marathon. In November 2021, she accomplished that goal. During that trip, she spoke about how she would love to have her own bench some day in Central Park. Her friends long to make that dream a reality with an Adopt A Bench memorial through the Central Park Conservancy. You can read more about that here. 

​Mindi and her husband Mike have two children, Isaac and Lauren. A GoFund me page has been set up in Mindi's memory to help with a college fund for their two young children. If you would like to donate to either Adopt a Bench or GoFund me, please click on the links above. You can also read her obituary here.