When I had a decent back and knees, I used to love to run, and I did run-walks for fun and for a cause. My cause of choice was cancer research: I did the Susan G. Komen Cancer Pink run several times, and my last foray was in 2008 for the Avon Run-Walk for Women marathon. One of my sisters died from complications from T-cell lymphoma (blood cancer), my mother-in-law was a breast cancer survivor, and a dear friend was also battling breast cancer.
While my friend did not win her battle, I never regretted raising awareness or contributing toward helping anyone facing this disease, which seems to pop up in so many ugly forms. When there is discernable progress and victory to be gained, I am all for contributing my money, time, and sweat equity. Some significant gains that have come from this research are immunotherapy, which has been a game changer for some friends and their families, and stem cell replacement, which has altered the calculus on cancer survival: especially those of the blood. Bone and blood cancers used to be an automatic death sentence; now these medical interventions can buy sufferers some time, and might even be the avenue that drives them into remission. This story about cancer survivors meeting the people who saved their lives because of their donation of stem cells struck a Feel-Good chord.
Strangers who become angels is the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
The Steps for Life 5k Run and Walk was started in 2010 in order raise money for the addition of stem cell and bone marrow donors to the Gift of Life donation registry. The event started in Florida, but since 2020, the run-walks have been held in cities like Boston and New York. For those who are unable or just not physically inclined, Gift of Life even hosts a Virtual Steps for Life which allows anyone in the world to participate.
Now in its 15th year, the 2026 Florida Steps for Life 5K was held on Sunday in Boca Raton, and offered a special opportunity for two blood cancer survivors to meet the people who donated their stem cells that saved their lives.
Roxanne Lockhart and Caitlyn Grewe, both wearing orange shirts, were filled with emotion as they prepared to meet their donors in front of more than 1,000 people gathered for the 5K event celebrating the Gift of Life registry.
"A lot of emotions, nervousness, excitement," Grewe said before the meeting.
Lockhart described feeling "kind of giddy" about the encounter.
Lockhart is now in good health, a leukemia survivor thanks to the gift of stem cells from Dr. Kristian von Rickenbach. When von Rickenbach was in medical school, she gave a swab sample as part of her internship. Decades later, von Rickenbach, now a doctor of sports medicine, learned from the registry that she was a match for someone in need of a stem cell transplant. von Rickenbach did not hesitate.
"As soon as I thought about it and realized I could help save someone's life, I was super excited and ready to come in and do whatever it meant, whatever it would take," von Rickenbach said.
The timing proved remarkable for von Rickenbach, who had just given birth to a son when she learned she was a stem cell donor match, essentially giving life to two people in the same week.
More Feel-Good Stories: Feel-Good Friday: Bone Marrow Donor Buys More Years for a Man's Family, Then Forges a Bond With Widow
Feel-Good Friday: Country Singer Walker Hayes Makes a 79-Year-Old Cancer Survivor's Day
How beautiful is that? Not only was she becoming a mother, but she was able to help save someone else's parent or child.
Caitlyn Grewe is from Minnesota, and her health was restored through the donor gift of Brianna Marr, a firefighter paramedic who hails from the Jacksonville, FL, area. Grewe said, "Words just don't even express the gratitude I have for Brianna."
I believe it. A complete stranger steps up to give you a second chance at life by giving of their blood — without hesitation. That is sacrificial and redemptive, just like the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
WPTV News captured the touching meeting of the donors and receipients, and it's five-tissue worthy.
WATCH:
Roughly 1,000 runners and walkers participated in Sunday's Gift of Life 5k Run and Walk. The organization raised a little over $244,000 of their 250,000 goal.
If you've ever been curious about what's involved in donating stem cells, the Gift of Life offered this spotlight to local WPBF TV. It's quite illuminating, and may alter your perspective on how one can contribute their blood and sweat in finding a cure for cancer.
WATCH:
Editor's Note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what's good in the world, with columns like "Feel-Good Friday," "Start Your Weekend Right," and "Hoge's Heroes."
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