Katie Crowell was a dedicated member of our Milton community who gave 100% of herself in service to others. She was an advocate, a runner, a volunteer, a fundraiser, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. This amazing woman was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in 2015 while 32 weeks pregnant. Katie has always used her passion for running to help others. Well before her MBC diagnosis, she was on the race team for the American Liver Foundation. It was there she met her husband, Mike. Later, after her diagnosis, Katie turned to her love of running to find some normalcy while continuing her work with various charities, including Dana-Farber, The Joe Andruzzi Foundation, Christmas in the City, and the Glover PTO. In the span of 15 years, Katie has raised well over $100,000 for her favorite causes. Armed with the knowledge that her subtype of cancer carried an average lifespan of 2-3 years, Katie persevered and made it her mission to raise awareness of MBC, campaigning fiercely for its patient population and much-needed funding for MBC research. Katie understood that her longevity was correlated with drug research that came directly out of Dana-Farber. Through her resolve, she raised thousands of dollars to help continue this research, always wanting to pay it forward. Her compassion helped countless women who faced and will face similar struggles. Katie's motto was “Grace + Grit,” qualities she embodied. Katie's act surrounds us all—in her beautiful children, her advocacy, the lives of other patients who have gained strength from her, and the innovative research that is currently happening, thanks partly to the money she raised. Her impact and contributions will continue to inspire many future runners. Please join us for the 5th Annual Grace + GRIT 5k so we can continue Katie's legacy in supporting cancer patients and their families! The Katie Crowell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity; EIN #92-2047293. For more information or to donate directly to the foundation, visit www.katiecrowellfoundation.org