Day 13 belongs to Kato — who did everything right, got the diagnosis anyway, and is spending the next twelve weeks getting her heart strong enough for what’s coming.

Listen to Kato’s dedication

Cancer doesn’t care how carefully you live

Kato was recently diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. Her friend Brandi, who nominated her, told us only about 18% of breast cancer patients get this specific type.

And here’s the part that stops you. Kato eats organic. She works out regularly. She’s the person who does everything right, every day, the way you’re supposed to.

Brandi put it plainly: “Kato is a reminder cancer doesn’t care who we are or what we do. It just attacks whomever it wants to.”

Twelve weeks to get her heart ready

Kato started chemotherapy on October 1. She’s been told she has twelve weeks to build her heart up as strong as she can before she faces a drug called Adriamycin.

Kato says it’s a pretty name. Everyone who’s been through it calls it the red devil. So she trains. Every day. Getting ready.

The part that got us

Brandi wanted to run these miles in Kato’s honor. She couldn’t — she’d just had an operation. So Kato is running them herself, to keep moving through treatment, with Brandi as her cheerleader.

And when Kato told us about it, she didn’t talk about herself. She talked about her friends:

“I also want to do this for Lauren and Michelle, who have been through breast cancer and are now helping me every step of the way. I couldn’t do this without my friends.”

Brandi can’t run, so Kato runs. Lauren and Michelle already walked this road, so they’re walking it again with her. That’s what this looks like when it works.

Kato, today we run for you

Strong, resilient, and ready for this fight — with a whole community of cheerleaders behind her now. Thirteen miles down, and this one’s yours.

Run for them. Get screened for you.

Share your miles with #KAFERuns31, follow KAFE 104.1 on Instagram, or text a photo to 360.676.5233.

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