Over the weekend, Dr. Gabrielle Lane, Physical Therapist at Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority completed the TCS New York City Marathon, her first-ever marathon, running in honor of cancer survivors, caregivers, and those still fighting.
Dr. Lane joined Team Livestrong, a national group of runners dedicated to supporting individuals affected by cancer to raise money during her journey. Through months of training, outreach, and dedication, she raised $3,875, surpassing her original goal of $3,500. According to Lane, she and her teammates raised over $60,000 for their programming which includes things like assistance in fertility planning for young adults diagnosed with cancer, free group exercise classes designed for adults who have been through or are currently going through treatment, and support groups for survivors and caretakers.
“At the end of 2024, a dear family friend passed away while receiving treatment for her relapsed multiple myeloma, and my great uncle was diagnosed with a brain tumor around the same time,” said Dr. Lane. “This really made me stop and realize that cancer has impacted so many more of my loved ones and my patients than I noticed before. These people I know and love are facing things that truly feel impossible every single day, and the more I sat with that thought the more I wanted to honor them and their journeys. It felt only fitting to honor them this way, as running a marathon always seemed impossible to me.”
Her inspiration to take on this challenge grew out of personal loss and reflection, which inspired her to dedicate the race to the fighters in her life. For each mile of the marathon – 26.2 miles – she dedicated it to someone she knows who has battled cancer, carrying their stories and courage with her through every step.
Running became her way to honor those journeys.
“I wanted to run this marathon to honor my family, friends, and patients who have fought cancer with so much strength and resilience,” Dr. Lane said. “Everyone who has run a marathon says there will come a point where you feel like you can’t go another step—and that’s when the real race begins,” she said. “At that point, I’ll have 26 different ‘whys’ to remember.”
Training through the summer heat was one of her biggest challenges. Early mornings, long runs, and missed social gatherings all became part of the process—but for Dr. Lane, the purpose outweighed the sacrifice.
“Luckily, I have already faced what I think will be the biggest challenge- the actual training. I started training in the middle of summer, so I have put in a lot of time and already
suffered through several heat waves to get here,” she said. “I have lost a lot of sleep for early morning runs, missed out on time with friends and family to get runs in, and have learned every lesson in running the absolute hardest way. Other than that, apparently it’s a long walk from the finish line to where I can finally hug my family…so I think that’s gonna be quite the challenge!”
Now that she’s crossed the finish line, Dr. Lane says she’s filled with gratitude for those who encouraged her along the way.
“The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming in the best way possible,” she said. “I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who followed along and supported me throughout this journey.”
Dr. Lane’s accomplishment is not only a personal milestone, it’s a testament to the spirit of perseverance and compassion that defines Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority. Through her dedication to her patients and her passion for honoring those impacted by cancer, she embodies the belief that even the most difficult journeys can inspire hope and healing.