MEMPHIS FIT
By Lucy Harrison Photo by Tindall Stephens
St. Jude Weekend
Means Everything to 3-Time Cancer Survivor Hillary Husband It is more than just a race; St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Runners from all over come together to be part of something bigger and make a difference in the lives of children with cancer. For some participants, it’s even more meaningful. For three-time cancer survivor and former St. Jude patient Hillary Husband, this race is a homecoming. Hillary, now 27, was 14 the first time she was diagnosed with cancer. A native of southwest Louisiana, she was a healthy competitive dancer— which made her diagnosis even more shocking. After blacking out at a dance audition, she was taken to the ER and diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia that night. With her world turned upside down, she was on a plane to Memphis the next day to receive treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Upon arrival, she was told that she had the second highest white blood cell count they’d ever seen.
“I lost so many friends who never had the chance to get well enough to run. I dedicate every mile to them.” As strong as they come, Hillary stayed on her high school dance team and continued training with them while undergoing treatment. “It was a struggle to keep dancing,” Hillary says. “But St. Jude worked with me to keep me moving. Being active gave me something to get out of bed for.” After 33 months of treatment, she was back at high school full time for her spring semester, where she eventually graduated as the valedictorian. Inspired by her time at St. Jude, she went on to study chemistry at a small liberal arts college in Louisiana, where she also joined the dance team.
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However, in October 2011, just two months into her freshman year of college, Hillary started gaining weight and became short of breath. After being
