Sunday, October 29th is the date set for the first running of the Never Give Up Hope 10K in Seneca Creek State Park.

This race will honor local runner, Hope Machedon, who passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer in March 2005.

Hope rediscovered her love for distance running at age 37 and by May 2000 progressed to a marathon best of 2:55:07 (4th place/Vermont City Marathon). Later that year, she came in 2nd in the Rockville 10K (39:50), ran a personal best in the Philadelphia Half Marathon (1:23:08) and captured a 4th place finish in the Richmond Marathon (2:58:32). She was ranked 2nd amongst the 40-44 women in the Washington Running Report rankings for the fall of 2000.

The following May, Hope was diagnosed with breast cancer, but continued to train like an Olympic athlete until weeks before she died, averaging 80 miles per week on her treadmill. She never gave up hope that she would recover and someday qualify for the Olympic Marathon trials.

Everyone is invited to run the Never Give up Hope 10K. There is no charge for the event (limited to 250 runners) and refreshments will be served. The course is certified and the race will be professionally timed by the Montgomery County Road Runners.

For more information, visit www.hopesrace.com.