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Man Runs Marathon to Support Cancer Survivor, Athletic Trainer

A couple from Danville is the epitome of team work.

Carrie Hendrick is the director of athletic training at Averett University. She beat ovarian cancer twice. Those who know her, know her as a survivor. Just ask her boyfriend Brent Skipper.

“Everyone sees her as very strong but behind closed doors there’s been some tough times, but we’ve definitely gotten through it,” Brent said.

“I’m still on some medications but I am cancer free,” Carrie said. “I am feeling good.”

She planned to run a half marathon to raise money for a cancer research organization close to her heart called theJimmy V Foundation.

“I’ve been able to see exactly what the foundation does with patients,” Carrie said. “I’ve been able to benefit from the V Foundation.”

However, just a few weeks before the Rock n’ Roll Marathon, Carrie’s doctor said she couldn’t do the half-marathon because of a recent surgery.

“Three weeks out she’s like ‘hey you’re running a marathon coming up here soon, be ready,’ so i’m like ‘oh alright,’ ” Brent said.

Three weeks isn’t much time to train, but Brent powered through.

“I just knew I had to keep pushing,” he said. “There were times where I was like ‘man this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done’, but knowing I had Carrie’s name on my back I kept going and found a way.”

“When I was able to see him coming it was really emotional to see that here’s a guy who didn’t train at all,” Carrie said. ‘He’s all for cancer research, he’s taken me to treatment. He’s taken me to Duke many of times.”

Even though Carrie didn’t run the marathon, she ran the 5K. The couple plans on running again next year.

The team of Jimmy V Foundation runners raised more than $600,000 for cancer research at the event.

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“Caring for Carrie” Honors Athletic Trainer and V Foundation

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Averett University’s men’s basketball game featured a special event to raise cancer awareness.

It’s part of the 2nd annual “Caring for Carrie” event to raise money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The event honored Carrie Hendrick, Averett’s current director of athletic training education. She’s been battling ovarian cancer since 2013. Jamie Valvano, daughter of late N.C. State Coach “Jimmie V” was there to show support. She says all it takes is one person to make a difference.

“My dad started the V Foundation when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and it was just one man who had a dream to find a cure for cancer. He used his voice to share that with others and he started the V foundation.” Jamie Valvano said.

Averett raised just over $800 at the annual event last year.

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Averett University athletic training program director beats cancer for second time

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A two-time ovarian cancer survivor is sharing her story. Carrie Hendrick is the athletic training program director at Averett University in Danville.

WDBJ7 first met Hendrick in the spring when she was going through chemotherapy and the Averett softball team was holding a game in her honor.

Since then Hendrick has beaten ovarian cancer for the second time and is trying to raise awareness by sharing her story.

This past April Carrie Hendrick was optimistic about her condition. She had a smile on her face as the Averett University community wrapped their arms of support around her.

“When in remission everyone celebrated with me but this go around everybody knew. Our Averett family is very close knit,” said Hendrick.

It’s been a long battle. A battle Hendrick thought she was only going to have to fight once. After beating ovarian cancer in December 2013, she was diagnosed again in August 2014. But Hendrick wasn’t going to give up.

“Either I can choose to mope away or I can choose to fight it,” Hendrick said.

With her boyfriend Brent Skipper by her side. The day they had waited for arrived. Two months ago, doctors told Hendrick she was cancer free. Her battle was over again.

“Carrie is one of the strongest girls I’ve ever met, probably the strongest,” Skipper said.

“But it doesn’t register as what i went through as being strength. I think, what kicks in is, it’s like, you have to live,” Hendrick said.

But whether she believes it or not. Hendrick has become an example for women and cancer survivors around the nation. And she is using September as Ovarian Cancer awareness month to help spread her message.

“Get checked. the paps, getting the check up because the signs and symptoms are not there,” she said.

Every year, nearly 22,000 women are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.

“I’m sitting here today to say I beat it twice, and it can happen and I just hope that, that is giving somebody else the motivation that is going through what I went through to just keep going,” Hendrick said.

“Whatever comes next we are going to be optimistic. She is going to beat whatever, whatever the odds are. She’s going to win, absolute,” said Skipper.

Teal is the color of Ovarian Cancer.

You can help support Ovarian cancer with the simple hashtag – bleed teal.
Since being cancer free in July, Hendrick goes in for her first check up next week.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/southern-virginia/averett-university-athletic-training-program-director-beats-cancer-for-second-time/35193288