Mom’s on the Run, an annual walk/run for awareness of breast cancer, has yet again made a huge impact on the local community of Reno. This past Mother’s Day, a 4 mile walk was held at Damonte Ranch High School, a walk that would stretch around the Damonte Ranch Wetlands. Since 2000, the race has provided support for living expenses and to help eliminate medical expenses for Northern Nevada women diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer. As an on-scene reporter (and especially for my mom), I decided to once again participate in this annual event with my family!
Wearing my full pink outfit, face painting, continental breakfast, a hair booth to pink out your hair or donate it towards wigs, a survivor booth, and a merch stand greeted me as soon as I walked in. An incredible 2000+ people congregated, beginning the mass exodus at 9am. Walkers were split up into 3 different speed groups: Speedwalkers, Long-legs, and Chatty Cathy’s. A singing of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” marked the beginning of the walk. Once the chords had been belted, Barbara and JC Pinnochio, the owners of Pinocchio’s and the founders of Mom’s On the Run, let us loose!
We began the long trek around the Damonte Wetlands, starting at the McCauley Ranch Boulevard and Rio Wrangler Parkway. The first half mile was spent getting to the head of the pack, as 2,000 people do not easily filter into a 4-person wide trail. Stretched out to our right was the beginning of the wetlands. Beautiful birds, ducks, and frogs littered the area. Red-Winged Blackbirds, marsh wrens, and American avocets laid in the water and held onto the reeds. Spirits were high among the walkers! Mothers walking with baby strollers, children with their parents, and even grandparents were happily moving along the asphalt. Neighboring houses of the trail had decorated their fences and come out to watch us mosey along!
Halfway through the trail now, we crossed over the bridge along Veterans Parkway, with multiple cop cruisers and bikes blocking one lane of traffic for us to safely walk across. Around this time is when the kids (and I) began to moan and groan about how much longer we had to do, and how it was a remarkably hot day for this walk. Now haphazardly treading, we neared the end of the trail. Crossing another bridge, we were steps away from the finish!!
Finally crossing the finish line, bells, whistles, and flowers for us to give to our moms awaited every participant. “I am so thankful that you did this with me again,” my Mom announced to my family and I. A bittersweet statement, as this will be one of the last times I can do this walk with college approaching. I hugged my Mom, and told her I will always be happy to do this whenever I can!
This yearly fundraiser shows no signs of stopping. 90 cents of every dollar donated goes right back to helping women in the community, and they have raised close to $10 million dollars, more than 98% of that going right back to the Reno community. Mom’s On the Run, a flagship fundraiser of Reno, will continue to make a massive impact on the community for years to come!