Two Families Take on Chicago via Team CCF
The Jacksons and the Pryors generously share their journeys and efforts to support CCF and lift those who need support.
The Jackson Family
Connection to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Our mom, Lynette Jackson, is fighting stage IV cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). She was initially diagnosed in 2021, and after a brief period of no evidence of disease (NED) post-liver resection and preventative chemotherapy, the cancer recurred. CCF has been instrumental in helping her find the right doctors and providing our family with a community that understands what we are going through.
Why Supporting CCF’s Outreach and Research Feels Meaningful
CCF has been a great resource for our family. Our parents have attended two Annual Conferences, and Sarah has run the NYC Marathon twice with Team CCF. Without the CCF, our mom would not be receiving cutting-edge care at MD Anderson, which has allowed her to continue living a full life and manage her cancer beyond what is deemed as ‘normal’ for this aggressive disease. Without the clinical trials, sharing of research through CCF, and push for a second opinion from the CCF, we would have been completely lost in the already complex US healthcare system and the rarity of cholangiocarcinoma. CCF has provided an incredible community that, although we would have preferred not to be a part of, has given us so much hope!
Why We Chose the Chicago Marathon
Sarah has run the New York Marathon twice, and we wanted to do a different marathon together. Sarah did the research for Catherine’s first marathon, and the flatter Chicago Marathon sounded perfect. When we signed up for the marathon, neither of us had visited Chicago, so it also added the element of ticking off a new city!
Running has always been an important activity for our family. Since we were young, our mom and dad would take us on ‘family runs.’ From being somewhat pulled along on short runs growing up, we both now love running, and it is an important part of our routines. Every day feels better after you have exercised and cleared your head (something our mom taught us). Although cholangiocarcinoma has not slowed our mom down much (she still walks 6+ miles most days and is an avid tennis player), there are times when treatments do get in the way of being able to get outside and move. It reminds us that it is a privilege to be able to move (and run), and this is not something we should take for granted. Do it while you can, and why not raise awareness for cholangiocarcinoma while you do it? A marathon should be a doddle compared to what our mom, and so many others fighting cholangiocarcinoma, go through so bravely daily.
We are loving getting seriously back into running again. It teaches you so much about yourself and the power of the mind. Training for a marathon is a lot easier when you remember why you are doing this, and raising awareness for cholangiocarcinoma is a worthy cause. We have been overwhelmed by the support for our Team CCF fundraiser, which reminds us we are not alone. Both within and outside the CCF community, so many people are rallying behind us.
Raising the Funds
We are almost at our fundraising goal. If anyone would like to donate, the link is below. We appreciate all the support! Sarah is an artist who focuses on creating vibrant and large-scale oil paintings. For all those who donate, you will be entered into a raffle (based on dollars donated) to win one of Sarah’s paintings. If you win, you can choose from her works. You can check out her work on Instagram (@sarahjackson_art) or her website.
Our family friend is running the NYC Marathon this year for Team CCF. She is organizing a run in Washington, DC, in mid-August. Please let us know if anyone is local and would like to join, and we can share the link.
The Pryor Family
Connection to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Our dad, Martin Pryor, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in 2021. Throughout his two years of treatment, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation was a vital resource for our family, offering access to second opinions, perspectives on potential treatments, and a sense of community.
Why Supporting CCF’s Outreach and Research Feels Meaningful
We know that CCF has been the driving force for patient support and research funding for this rare and relentless cancer that has impacted our family so intimately. We hope that through the generosity of our donors, we can support CCF in continuing to advance its research to discover new treatment options, increase the quality of life for current patients, and ultimately find a cure.
Why We Chose the Chicago Marathon
We lost our dad in December 2023. Shortly after, we learned through friends that CCF had a team running in the Chicago marathon. When we contacted the CCF team to inquire about running together as siblings, we learned only three spots remained – we felt it was meant to be. So, just a few weeks after Martin’s passing, the three of us committed to running and raising money for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Our significant others will also be running the Chicago Marathon in honor of Martin for the American Cancer Society. Together, the six of us are running as Team Martini.
Following Martin’s passing, the community embraced our family. We were touched by stories about his impact on others’ families through his work and dedication to local youth sports. We are equally blown away by the support our friends, family, and community have shown through their donations to Team Martini. To date, we have raised over $15K from 121 donors. An article about Martin Pryor and his incredible legacy is here.
