3rd Annual Honor Scroll

At the finish line in 2010

April 2010. This is when it started. I was struggling to understand how cancer has suddenly and silently slipped into my life. This disease that affected "other" people had decided to attack BOTH of my parents in the few months prior. It was difficult for me to comprehend that something this vicious could so quickly alter the quality and direction of life. I spent a lot of time questioning the how and why of things while sitting around the hospital as my Dad underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. Less than 2 months later, I asked these same questions again as doctors operated on my Mom for colorectal cancer.

Sitting around asking questions without answers did nothing but confuse me more. I am a runner. So I would slip away and go for a run when I could. These were the mind clearing, therapeutic, stress relieving, all around feel good runs that you hear runners talk about. Most were short but a few were longer. It was on one of these "longer" runs that I quit asking "Why" and started asking, "What are you going to do about it?"

Huh? Me? What could I do about it. I can't do anything about it. I'm not a doctor, scientist, or wizard. I don't have unlimited funds to donate for research. I don't have anything special to offer. I'm just a normal dude. That runs. A lot. Wait..... I'm not a genius so it took a few more miles before it all clicked. Run. Raise money to fight back. Seemed so simple....

There are some wonderful people in my community that unite through the Relay for Life and share the common goal of a world without cancer. With their help and passion to fight back, we were able to put together the Honor Scroll Run. The original idea was to add 50 names of people that have battled cancer to an "honor scroll" and carry it for 50 miles in the Ouachita 50 mile trail race in Little Rock, Arkansas and raise a couple of bucks for the Relay......

This started as a personal journey, to see what I could do, to find a way that I could help, to help ME cope, deal and understand this horrible disease. I understand so much more now because of the incredible character and desire of so many. By the end of that first 50 miles, I was crying. Not because of anything to do with me- It had NOTHING to do with me. That was an amazing and game changing realization. WE are in this fight together. WE all hate cancer. WE are on this journey together.

On April 21st, WE will once again climb Mt. Pinnacle and travel the rugged terrain of the Ouachita 50 while carrying an Honor Scroll. We will again beg ask for donations of $5 per name. This will be the 3rd year for the Honor Scroll event and over the past 2 years, about 350 people have been honored and close to $3,000 donated to the ACS for this. THAT is amazing. Please join us to make this year the biggest and best yet. You can DONATE ONLINE HERE.

2010 and 2011 Honor Scrolls unrolled on the stairway to my basement.

I do want to remind you that donations are secondary and are NOT mandatory, I will carry the names REGARDLESS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DONATE in order for their name to be listed on the scroll.
 Please just take a minute to think about it. Remember- I will be honored to carry the names with me even if you do not make a donation.

You can contact me by email me at runlikeamug@yahoo.com to add a name. Or catch me on twitter. Or facebook. Or text/call if you have my #. Or chase me down if you see me running. Or just fill out this FORM.

Checks can be made out to the American Cancer Society and mailed to my address:
David Murphy
HC 72 Box 324-8
Wasola, MO 65773

To donate through my Relay for Life page....

Donate HERE

To donate through PayPal.....

In times of great despair and uncertainty, it helps to know you’re not alone and that there is an answer–hope.