On Saturday morning, Patti Gilligan ran her first 5-kilometer road race since her breast cancer diagnosis two years ago. More than 20 of her neighbors, friends and family ran with her in support.

Two years ago, Patti Gilligan was diagnosed with breast cancer, setting her on a journey that involved extensive treatment and surgery and deprived her of many of lifes comforts.

Running was one of her favorite activities before her diagnosis. It was both an opportunity to spend time with like-minded friends and to blow off steam, but the cancer left her unable to participate in rigorous exercise.

So running a 5-kilometer race with a group of roughly 20 friends, family members, and neighbors from her Lewis Center community Saturday felt like a revelation.

"This is the first time Ive run a true 5K" since her diagnosis, said Gilligan, who is now cancer-free. "It is absolutely exhilarating."

And two years after a diagnosis that threw a monkey wrench into her life plans, the run gave her a much-needed feeling of normalcy.

"I feel like cancer took so much of my life, but this is something I can control and I can get back to," Gilligan said.

A little rain briefly hampered otherwise ideal running weather. Cloud cover kept the sun at bay and temperatures hovered below 70 degrees most of the morning.

The run wasnt easy, Gilligan said, but she drew on her friends and her experience to bring her through to the finish line.

"I just kept remembering, when I wanted to quit, how badly I wanted to run when I was going through chemotherapy, and after surgeries," Gilligan said. "It pushed me to get through it."

This years Race for the Cure, which raises money for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation, was virtual because of the coronavirus outbreak. Participants ran on their own and logged their time. Determined runners and cancer survivors such as Gilligan organized their own smaller version of the popular race.

Patti Gilligans husband, Matt Gilligan, said running and otherwise being active was always an important part of their family life.

"We want to live a long time and be healthy," he said. "But we also want to set a good example for our kids." The couple has two children, a 12-year-old son, Brady, and a 16-year-old daughter, Caroline.

Their efforts to encourage a healthy lifestyle seem to have paid off. Caroline left for a cross country camp shortly after the morning run.

Shannon Hoppert, a long-time friend of Gilligans, ran with her on Saturday.

Gilligan helped Hoppert get started as a runner. The two women bonded and used running to escape the stress of work and parenthood. The Lewis Center woman eventually talked Hoppert into running a half-marathon in 2009, and theyve run four more since then.

Gilligan maintained a positive attitude through her diagnosis and the cancer treatment, Hoppert said, providing inspiration to her friends. It was thrilling to have her friend back for a race on Saturday morning, she said.

"Its been too long," Hoppert said. "Its always been something thats been our release from real life. Its awesome to have her back."

Gilligans neighbors on Overland Trail in Lewis Center were there for her throughout her battle with cancer and many jumped at the chance to run a 5K with her.

"Its about community," Matt Gilligan said. "This group of people and this neighborhood have been very supportive throughout."

That support helped Gilligan through the cancer treatment. Her family created a Facebook page for supporters and described receiving inspirational messages.

"There are people here who came and prayed over me before I had my surgeries and treatments," Gilligan said. "Its just a reminder to me, every time I look at these people, of what theyve done for me and how supported and loved I am."

pcooley@dispatch.com

@PatrickACooley

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Breast cancer survivor runs first 5K with friends and family since diagnosis - The Columbus Dispatch