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Sioux Falls Marathon: Race for little warriors

You must meet Aria. She’s 5 years old, loves to dance, is fascinated with birds and, before cancer changed her life, was so proud of her long, curly blond hair.

Aria’s mom, Lacey, once thought it was a chore to comb through her golden locks. But a month into Aria’s chemo treatments for cancer, the tedious detangling became a reality check.

One night, after her daily bath, lotion and jammies, Lacey started to gently brush Aria’s hair right into her hands. Hair strands caked the tub, layered the floor and stuck to Aria’s body.

“That’s when it hit me,” Lacey remembers. “As this hair kept streaming out of her head, getting all over her and me and coming out in piles, you could see her scalp clearly on top. The lump in my throat formed … this cancer is REAL and I lost it.”

Be a hero

Just by registering for the Sioux Falls Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and Miracle 5K benefiting Sanford Children’s Miracle Network, you can be a hero to kids like Aria.

Every dollar helps provide state-of-the-art equipment, expand programs, further research and offer direct family assistance, all to save and transform lives close to home. Last year, this amazing event raised more than $28,000!

Register today at siouxfallsmarathon.com!

Aria recently celebrated her final day of treatment, but so many more local children are counting on your support. 

Sioux Falls Marathon

  • When: Sept. 9
  • Where: Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, 1201 North West Ave., Sioux Falls
  • More details: There’s a distance for everyone. Race in the marathon, half marathon, new 10K route or the Miracle 5K!