Photo: Joanna Gaines/Instagram
Chip Gainesis honoring the woman who helped him train for his first marathon last year as shemoves to end-of-life care.
Gabrielle “Gabe” Grunewald, a professional distance runner, was diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer back in 2009, and thyroid cancer a year later. Her husband, Justin, revealed on Monday that Gabe, 32, wasreadmitted to the ICUupon experiencing septic shock. She was moved to comfort/end-of-life care two days later.
After learning that Gabe had been readmitted to the ICU, Chip shared a heartfelt messageon Twitteron behalf of himself and hiswife Joanna, writing “To @gg_runs. We love you. You changed us forever, and til we meet again, we promise to be #BraveLikeGabe.”
On June 10, Chip also responded to an old photo Gabe posted from from this year’s Silo District Marathon, in which Chip ran the half marathon.
“Wishing the nicest guy we know a great 13.1 tomorrow here at the @magnolia #silodistrictmarathon! And of course sending all the best vibes to the thousands of runners here in Waco challenging themselves and supporting a great cause: the fight against cancer! Say hi to me at the 5k and I’ll give you a #runningonhope temp tattoo. I’ll be out there just having fun and getting to the finish line! See you in the AM!” Grunewald wrote in April.
On Monday, Chip responded with a short but sweet comment, writing “Love you @gigrunewald!! All I ever want is to be #braveLikeGabe. -til we meet again.”
Chip first met Gabe in New York City, while on tour for his bookCapitalGaines.In apersonal essaypublished in the summer issue of his Joanna’s magazine,Magnolia Journal,Chip explained that he saw Gaberunning through Central Park with Justin.
He attempted to strike up a conversation with the couple, asking them “how long it would take for an out-of-shape guy like me totrain for a marathon.” The couple were happy to chat and Gabe told Chip he could be a qualified runner in about 4 months.
Chip then learned about Gabe’s condition, and began speaking to her about the foundation she started a foundation calledBrave Like Gabe, whosemission is to support rare cancer research and “empower cancer survivors through physical activity.”
He explained that meeting Gabe “felt like a call to action.” So he went back home to Waco and started planning for the Silo District Marathon, now in its second year.
However, he didn’t want to just plan the marathon. He wanted to run in it, despite being “out of shape” — and Gabe agreed to help coach him.
This year, Gaines says a combined 6,000 people ran in the marathon, half-marathon and 5k races, and they raised over $300,000 for both a local cancer treatment center and the Brave Like Gabe foundation.
“We host this race because I believe when we do hard things together, we can accomplish the impossible!” Gaines wrote in alater blog poston Magnolia.com. “Whether it’s to push our bodies further than we ever have before, or raise a boatload of money to help find a cure for this thief called cancer.”
source: people.com
