From the heart on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Running is a rush for Beth Svenby, who can be seen taking in the fresh air at a steady pace often in her neighborhood.

Svenby, though, is putting together a marathon in Owatonna this year that is not about her.

“I think you live for a certain amount of time and it’s all about what you get,” she said. “Then there’s a time where you realize living is really about what you give.”

This is how she explained the cause — called the From the Heart Half Marathon/5K Run/Walk — to members of student councils, as she recruited students from each of the schools in Owatonna to host water stations for the race.

The marathon, which will hold its inaugural race in May, hopes to be an annual event benefiting families in the community who are coping with cancer. Svenby said she first thought of the idea after hearing a story about Lisa Hilstad of Owatonna, who is battling stage four breast cancer, which has spread to her liver, hip and femur.

“I heard about her situation at our church and I knew we needed to do something,” said Svenby.

So Svenby pulled together friends and family members to begin a new type of benefit in Owatonna, the annual marathon.

Jennifer Dietz, Lisa’s sister, has been talking to Svenby about the race, keeping her updated about Lisa’s condition.

“She just had a CT scan on Tuesday and they’re not sure what it is,” said Dietz, who said her sister

has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation since being diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. Lisa is on chemo again, but because she is in stage four of the cancer, options are limited.

“It is a stage which is the worst level of cancer,” said Dietz. “She’ll be on chemo for the rest of her life.”

For Lisa, who is known for her strong spirit and positive attitude, the battle with cancer is not just hers, but something her family struggles with as well. Her husband, Jon, who works at Federated Insurance in Owatonna, has already lost his mother, father, and sister to cancer.

“Mentally — not that you’re ever prepared for it — but it’s just hard to deal with it,” said Jon. He also has three children with Lisa: Karissa, 11, Bria, 15, and Travis, 17.

Despite the hardship though, Jon tries to keep his chin up.

“You have to stay positive,” he said. “Your mental process is a major part of the battle.”

At least, for Jon and the Hilstad family, this is a battle that won’t be fought alone. Jon said he didn’t even know Svenby very well before she came to his family to tell them how she wanted to help.

“It was kind of a surprise for us,” said Jon. “We didn’t even know it was in the works, and she just came to us and said she wanted to do it.”

So, with a little bit of organization on Svenby’s part, and a lot of hard work from a great many volunteers, the marathon is open to runners for registration. Even with a Web site completed and a committee in place to make the run a reality, there is still a lot of work to do.

Svenby said she sent out letters to businesses looking for sponsors and cash or concession donations. But she is still looking for volunteers. The marathon is set to run a course of 13 miles through Owatonna parks and neighborhoods.

“This is a road race, with several age divisions,” Svenby said. “Each runner will receive a T-shirt. All finishers will receive a medal.”

Svenby said there will even be T-shirts of a different color to honor cancer survivors. And the Hilstad family, though humbled, is on board for the cause against cancer.

“It seems like it’s all around us,” said Jon.

For more information, an entry form, or to sponsor or volunteer for the marathon, visit the Web site at www.fromtheheartrun.com. Interested parties can also contact Beth Svenby at 456-8909 or Nancy Williams at 456-2183. Additional entry forms are available at www.raceberryjam.com.

Melissa Kaelin can be reached at 444-2372.

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Member Opinions: By: smiley on 2/23/09 My thoughts and prayers go out to Hilstad family as well as their extended family. This is a wonderful family and it's very sad they must deal with this terrible disease. May God be with you and your family each and every day as you fight this battle.
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