Roy Zaletski
When I pull on my BSNCF shirt for a run, race, or even a hike – I know that I am raising awareness about and spreading the message of this amazing charity.
“We should go for a run sometime.” My first introduction to John Searing began as a conversation between two neighbors in 2008. It has since become a friendship that stretches well into its second decade. Through John, I have been made aware of the fantastic work done by the BSNCF, the lives it has positively impacted, and the message of hope it spreads.
My own family has been impacted on multiple occasions by cancer. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, now fully 17 years in remission following treatment she received in the Richmond, Virginia, area. More recently, she has undergone successful treatment for lung cancer. Before his passing last year, my father was treated for prostate cancer on several occasions, and we saw positive results from the care he received. And despite succumbing to prostate cancer in 2022, my father-in-law battled valiantly for more than two years, approaching his treatment with his typical mix of vigor, optimism, and a sense of humor.
Running has long been my preferred exercise; entering races is part of my annual routine. As my children became old enough, they joined the fray, whether it was the Kids’ Mile before the Shamrock Half Marathon, the cross-country team at their school, or joining their mom and me to hike Torrey Pines State Park and Beach. And even though we moved from Virginia to California in 2014, my first race wearing a BSNCF shirt was when John and I met up in Oregon for the 2017 Eugene Half Marathon.
I am proud to represent all those whose hard work contributes to the success of BSNCF and the carrying out of its mission. Their message of positivity, hope, and kindness makes a difference for so many people – and will do so for years to come.
– Roy Zaletski, California