Two students triumph in 5K race to support victims of lung cancer

On Thursday, May 8, two St. Andreans ranked in the top three winners of the Inaugural 5K Run Walk for Letty & Lung Cancer Awareness in Bear, Delaware. Competing against over 600 other runners, Tyler Gehrs, who won last Sunday’s 5th Annual Run Walk for Ovarian Cancer in Wilmington, came in second place with a 17:57 time, cutting his last Sunday winning time by almost a full minute. VI Former Schafer Newman was close behind in third place with an 18:20 time.

The race was created to honor Letty Bowe, a former nurse at Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, who was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago. “Lung cancer is one of the least funded cancers,” said race organizer Nancy Rudolph. “People assume that victims are at fault for smoking. But Letty never smoked a day in her life. Letty and I realized that lung cancer didn’t get the attention it deserved, and we created the race to raise awareness and to honor her. We are hoping to make it an annual event.”

More than 800 people attended the race, and organizers ran out of numbers. “Many people were there because of Letty - she was very well loved and very well respected – and to raise money for a good cause,” said Ms. Rudolph. “We are thrilled that your [St. Andrew’s] students participated,” she added.

Proceeds from the race benefit The American Cancer Society, and will be donated in early June at the Relay for Life in Hodgson.

Fifth Former Tyler Gehrs made second place with a 17:57 time.