Photo courtesy of Juan Crestanello
Cancer survivor Juan Crestanello got a chance to watch Run for the Rainbow two years ago. This year, he looks forward to finally participating in the event himself.
I write to tell my story and that of so many other young people like me; to describe the influence that Run for the Rainbow had on me; and to give people a look into a world that is marked by not only struggle, but also success.
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To many, Run for the Rainbow might seem like just another organization that attempts to throw money at a cause. But for me and so many other kids, it means so much more. Run for the Rainbow affects the lives of so many children in a way that is immeasurable: It gives them hope.
In June 2013, I was undergoing treatment for a cancer that had persisted in my belly. It’s hard to describe how I felt undergoing treatment and then having to undergo more treatment. But one analogy might be fitting. It’s like when an ocean wave knocks you down and you can’t get up because the current keeps you under water. You panic and fight to get to the surface, but you realize this might be it.
At certain moments in that day, I would lose sight of the bigger picture and focus on the anger and anguish that had built throughout the course of treatment. But for every moment that I felt overwhelmed by emotions, I would look at the people around me: my family, my community, my peers and all the children going through similar situations. They made me realize that my cancer could take everything from me, but it could not touch my mind, my spirit and my soul. Only I could give those away. And this gave me hope – hope that I could overcome my disease, which I finally did four months later.
Apart from my family, seeing organizations such as Run for the Rainbow helped me be more resilient. The run saw close to 1,000 participants that June. Some participants might not have noticed those of us who were watching for inspiration.
Run for the Rainbow humanized my disease, and it reminded me that I didn’t have to fight alone. In other words, it transformed a menacing curse into something that was manageable and could be beat with the support of the community.
On that warm June morning, the buzz around the run was like that of Pelotonia and the New Albany Walking Classic. Everyone was eager. Eager to run towards a goal that many of us have embraced: end cancer.
Run for the Rainbow brings the best out of the New Albany Community, combining fitness with a desire to bring change in our community. I look forward to participating in the run this summer.
Juan Crestanello is a New Albany resident and a student at Columbus Academy. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Run for the Rainbow will be held on June 19 at New Albany Market Square. Events will start at 5:30 p.m. To register or learn more, visit giving.nationwidechildrens.org.
