Third Run Down Cancer 5K Is For Peyton

The Team Peyton Run Down Cancer 5K will be held in Anderson on July 30.

Peyton Vanderpool, 7, is the son of Jack and Morganne Vanderpool of Carl Junction, Mo. Peyton was diagnosed in February 2015 with a very rare form of brain cancer. He has had two surgeries, one of which was to place a shunt to relieve some of the pressure from his brain. All of the proceeds from the 5K will go toward Peyton’s cancer fund.

Morganne Vanderpool said her son’s tumor is in the meninges, or the lining of his brain, and so “there’s no way they could go in and remove it.” Peyton has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments every two weeks in Kansas City, which is about a two and a half hour drive from where the family lives.

“It can be (expensive). We usually stay at the Ronald McDonald House because that helps a lot,” Morganne said. “It can definitely add up quick.”

Peyton will continue receiving chemotherapy until March, at which time doctors will re-evaluate how well the treatments are working, she said.

Morganne has been impressed with how resilient her son has been through everything. “He stays pretty positive. He gets sick for a day or two after treatments, but he’s a pretty normal kid. He’s pretty resilient; he doesn’t let it get him down. He’s a pretty tough kid. It surprises me all the time at how he handles things. Kids are amazing, for sure.”

Asked how the family felt about being beneficiaries of the 5K, Morganne said, “It was a total surprise, and we are so thankful and grateful that they would want

to do that for our family. I think it will be fun. We’re going to do the fun one as a family. I think it will be fun to know that so many people came to support our family and care about us.”

Jill Clark of Anderson is organizing the Run Down Cancer 5K for the third year in a row, which benefits a different family each year. The one-mile fun run starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. The fun run is $15, and participants get medals and a T-shirt. The 5K is $25, and participants get T-shirts and age-group awards. The races start with registration at Anderson City Hall. For people who can’t make the race, there is a virtual option, Clark said. They can sign up and run their mile anywhere and share their run to the event page. There are also T-shirts available for those who want them but aren’t running for $15. To register, go to https:// localraces.com/twelveone/ run-down-cancer-5k.

“We usually have a lot of people come out and watch and support,” Clark said. “I think it really helps lift their spirits to see how people care. It’s really cool.”