GOOSE CREEK, S.C.–On any given Saturday, you could expect to see life-long runner Rebekah Broome pounding the pavement. She says it is what she has always done for years.
“I’ve always been pretty active,” Rebekah said.
A Facebook event lead her to the Fit Family 5k at Middleton Park in Goose Creek. She says she frequently scans groups in search of local run events. On this Saturday the temperature was in the 40s at 9 a.m. Despite the chilly air, she went out anyway.
Rebekah carefully laced up her shoes, wore a hat, and a navy running jacket. The single mother wakes up her two and a half year old girl, grabs her Bob Revolution jogging stroller, and a blanket for her child, and they brave the cool temps for the run. She even had her water cup filled and ready to go. 
Only this time she says this:
“I think I’m going to walk this time,” she says.
Peeking beneath Rebekah’s winter hat, reveals why she’s not up to her normal pace. The 34 year old has lost her hair, currently three months into chemotherapy for breast cancer. She was diagnosed with stage IIa, triple negative, invasive ductal carcinoma, an uncommon and aggressive form of the disease. She’s about halfway through her treatment, and despite her most recent chemo treatment taking place only two days ago, she is a fighter and says cancer won’t stop her from taking part in the 5k.
“When you’re told you shouldn’t do certain things or you can’t do it, it’s almost like a challenge that, yes, you can,” Rebekah said.
For the first ever Fit Family 5k free event, more than 300 others join Rebekah in her strides. People of all fitness levels. People of all ages. The group included grandparents, babies in strollers, and even furry 
family members.
“It’s much bigger than I expected, I could cry!” Fit Family 5k founder and organizer Heather Mathis-Faas said.
“It really is about bringing community together and giving them the strength and encouragement to do things they may have never done without the support.”
Faas and her husband BJ started hosting “Fit Family” events and camps around the Summerville/Goose Creek/Berkeley County area for people who were in search of ways to workout as a family unit. Anywhere from 30 to 50 may show up to one of the sessions, which are hosted free of charge. They also have a Facebook group used to spread the word about events and encourage others.
“We want our kids to grow up with the love of health and wellness. We do a little devotion and 45 minutes of working out. We are coming up on a year, ” she said.
Faas says having someone like Rebekah participate in the 5k, is an inspiration.
“It’s super motivating especially to us who are healthy and well to see somebody going through chemo who said ‘I was tired this morning, but I still came.’ That just melts my heart.”
As Rebekah stood at the starting line of the run, reflecting on her challenges with her cancer diagnosis, tears trickle down her face.
“It’s frustrating. You feel like your whole world kind of stops.”
The weekly chemo treatments have taken her ability to work, and she was forced quit her job as a nurse. But even though she says the treatment is tiring, she says she will push through and do what she
can do, like complete a 5k walk.
“The cancer or chemo won’t be an answer why I won’t do something.”
With that, Heather’s voice comes over the megaphone for runners and walkers to take their marks. Rebekah, with her daughter Lily and friend Tara Caldwell next to her, begins the 3.2 mile trek, finding the strength to move ahead, from deep inside herself.
*Rebekah currently lives in West Ashley. At the time of this story, she says her cancer was responding well to the chemotherapy. She is expected to complete her treatment by May 2016 and if cancer free, will get a double mastectomy. To learn more about Rebekah’s journey or to help out visit: https://www.gofundme.com/rebekahbroome
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