A Lakeland teen runs for St. Jude
It has been four years since Jaxon Hindman faced brain surgery, chemotherapy and radiation at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He plans to return to St. Jude in December, running across the hospital’s campus as he completes his first full marathon.
In previous years, when Hindman has completed the 5K or half marathons, he’s seen patients from St. Jude cheering him and others on outside the hospital.
“They’re so encouraging and motivating,” said Hindman, 17, of Lakeland. “Being able to go to all these events that support not just St. Jude, but any kind of cancer treatment hospital — it’s just so amazing to see everybody come out and just support each other and uplift one another.”
Hindman was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 at the age of 12. That year, his family and friends ran in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon in his honor. In 2015, he decided to run himself, starting with the 5k.
Although he’s now cancer free, he also returns to St. Jude every six months for blood work and appointments with his doctors and nurses.
“St. Jude saved my life, and I would not be here if it wasn’t for all of the miracles and lifesaving work that all of the amazing doctors and nurses do,” Hindman wrote on his fundraising page for
the race.
Last year, Hindman wanted to complete the full marathon, but his doctors told him to wait another year.
After his treatment, Hindman couldn’t play contact sports, so he started running. The half marathon and 5Ks just go by too quickly, he said.
His strength and determination inspire others, said Cresta Hindman, his mother.
“He’s inspired me to run,” she said. “When I think I can’t, I think about what he went through and it pushes me to keep going.”
Cresta Hindman said it is “very emotional” to see her son strive toward raising $600 to help other St. Jude families.
“We know what other families are going through,” she said. “Nobody truly knows that unless you have walked through those doors . ... Anything we can do to raise awareness and spread hope and love, we’ll keep doing it as long as we can.”
Hindman has been following an 18week marathon training program, running multiple times a week to get ready for the 26.2 miles in December.
He’s looking forward to seeing the current patients as he runs across St. Jude’s campus, he said.
“A note to other people who are fighting cancer or are former cancer survivors: just never give up,” Hindman said. “Turn your tragedies into triumphs.”