Residents race to raise money for cancer patients

When Marcus Aguilar crossed the finish line Saturday morning to win the race, he said running is a habit. But this was the first time he ran the Jill Behrman Run for the End Zone.

This year’s Run for the End Zone included 65 teams that participated in the 5K run or one-mile walk.

Aguilar, along with more than 1,250 others, ran to benefit the Jill Behrman Emerging Leaders Scholarships and Jill’s House, a second home for cancer patients in Bloomington.

    VIDEO: Run for the End Zone

“It’s a miracle,” said Mike Baxter, a resident of Jill’s House.

Baxter was diagnosed with cancer in April 2008. He came to Jill’s House as a last resort and was worried at first about the situation.

However, he said he fell in love with the community and the people around him.

Baxter is treated at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington, one of only five of its kind in the United States. His treatment is partly made possible by the Jill Behrman Run for the End Zone.

Jill’s House relies heavily on donations from outside sources and the money the run raises.

“The run has raised probably over $50,000 for us over the last few years,” said Peg Howard, president of Jill’s House. “It’s a lot of money. But it’s a big house to run and it takes a lot of money to run it, so we’re grateful for everything we get.”

Jill’s House provides a place for patients undergoing treatment at the MPRI in Bloomington to stay. It offers its residents low-cost housing, Internet access, laundry services, kitchens and other comforts in the time of uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

“This is the event that really set us off to begin with,” Howard said, “so it’s been very important to us. It brings a lot of awareness as to the need for such a facility. I think that’s the main importance for people to understand how much this place is needed.”

A group from Jill’s House took part in the walk to show its appreciation for the work that is done on their behalf.

“They were very excited about the event,” Howard said, “and I think they understand that without events like this, we wouldn’t be able to support the house.”

Andrea Mercatante, a second-year graduate student and chair of the student steering committee for the run, is one of the students who helped organize the event this year. Mercatante said she believes the event offers amazing opportunities to Jill’s House residents.

“I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “Jill’s House is a fantastic facility. It’s basically a home away from home for cancer patients who pick up everything they own and come to Bloomington for six to 13 weeks. If you have a chance, you should really go to the facility.”