Team Trina Remembers the Life of Trina McDonald

Susan G. Komen Race 2008 Raleigh, North Carolina

It's been 25 years since Nancy Brinker kept her promise to her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Her promise was to work to end cancer, particularly breast cancer.

In Raleigh, on Saturday June 14, 2008, that promise came to Raleigh, North Carolina on the campus of Meredith College on Hillsborough Street. Starting at seven in the morning, approximately twenty five thousand men, women and children began the 2008 Race for the Cure. For more than four hours, people streamed into the campus from distant parking lots and onto the main race course.

Shorter courses were available for those who did not feel comfortable with the longer race course.

Max O'Well was there to record some of the events of the day. Unlike 2007's race Max did not arrive in a timely manner. Some days Max just doesn't move that fast anymore.

Max's third story is that of Team Trina.

Trina McDonald was one of the people who was not here for the race because she was not a survivor. Though the facts differ from team to team, the "in memory signs tell the same tale. Someone didn't, for some reason or another, beat the disease.

The good side, if anything like this has a good side, is that the people that loved this person have not given up. They run, or walk, the race so that someone, possibly not even born yet, might get to live a full life.

In running this race, according to Max, they gave meaning to the life of the person who wasn't here to run with them. (though some believe that those who pass are with us when we do things that give their lives meaning).

Trina's husband was among those that walked the distance to help fight Breast Cancer. The support that those who have lost loved ones show in continuing the fight may some day lead to a young mother, wife or sister living to see old age because this family showed their love by coming out this morning in June.

Max, being a bit of an amateur artist, really liked the artwork on the front of the tee shirts. The likeness of Trina created nice impression of her. The family effort that continues the fight created an impression of the strength of the love that still exists among them.
Max met Trina's family as they prepared to join the race, as they were gathering together under a large tree on the Meredith College Campus.