Hello, this is Kimmie, a member of Team Endure to Cure.  I wanted to share a bit of my story with you in hopes that I might be able to inspire those of you who are or might soon be undertaking a challenge that seems like it might be impossible. A few years ago I weighed almost 250 pounds. This might be ok if I was 6’4″ and played for the Chicago Bears, but I am a woman and only 5′ 5″ tall.   I was a homemaker, a mother of two preschool-aged children and clinically obese and as the weight gained, my confidence and motivation declined at an even faster pace.  But this was not always how I looked and felt in life.  Several years earlier I was healthy weight, confident, and I even served time in the United States Navy. As a mom and college student, I began neglecting my health and eating poorly. Over the years the pounds continued to pile on.

Kimmie Brown in 2008

One April day in 2008, I looked at myself in the mirror.  I knew I had to do something not only for my own physical well being, but also for my children’s sake for they will naturally take on the habits and expectations I have for myself.  I began gathering information to make an informed decision about how to get into shape and how to best make healthy changes in my life.  I began eating small meals several times a day and then started integrating running and exercising into my life.

I thought losing weight was hard, but it wasn’t hard once I made up my mind this was something I wanted to do. I wanted to lose weight, not to read a particular number on the scale, or even to fit a certain jean size; I just wanted to be healthy for my children. I did not want to be another statistic for obesity, high blood pressure or any other preventative ailment.  I also knew that in order to lose a lot of weight, I had to lose one pound at a time.

It was also hard because exercising as an obese person often means enduring ridicule from others.  I will never forget a group of guys was driving down the street and they yelled, “KEEP RUNNING FAT A**!”  That was one of the meanest thing somebody said to me, but with my higher purpose, I stuck with it and was patient.  And it worked.

Kimmie Brown in 2011

One pound at a time and nearly three years later, I now weigh about 135 pounds and feel better than ever.  With my improvement in confidence over time, I have taken on new challenges.  I decided to run  6 marathons over the next year because it was a huge challenge to me.

I decided to join Endure to Cure because I have children, I am an aunt, as well as a teacher. I see children daily in my life and I sincerely believe they are the future. I changed my weight, I changed my heart and I devote my efforts of improvement to a higher cause. When I am struggling with running or even with my weight, I will think of those children suffering from Pediatric Cancer and remember why I run…with a purpose.