Marathon Man Dedicates Run to The Gathering Place

Each year, on National Cancer Survivors Day (the first Sunday in June), the greater Cleveland community comes together to recognize and celebrate cancer survivors with The Gathering Place during their Race for the Place.

“Since we are virtual this year, runners from all over the area are coming up with creative ways to run in honor of all cancer survivors and raise money for The Gathering Place,” reports Claire Anter, of The Gathering Place.

A total commitment to the run is the gesture being made by Jan Frandsen, Nurse Practitioner from Seidman Cancer Center.

Jan is taking his PLACE2PLACE run by running from The Gathering Place in Beachwood to The Gathering Place in Westlake (“Place2Place”) – a distance of 26-plus miles on Saturday, June 5th (rain or shine)! The Race for the Place is Sun. June 6th, and Jan’s run kicks off the weekend. “Plus, I need a day to recover before work on Monday,” he laughs.

Along the way, he will be joined by friends from UH to run, walk and cheer him on throughout the streets of Cleveland.

Among his colleagues will be: Colleen Carroll – Nurse at the Seidman Cancer Center, Kristen Carpenter, Melissa Stavana – Social Worker, Lorna Richman – Biodynamic Craniofacial Therapist, and Sue Stewart Palmisano – Therapist (Independent Practice).

Jan is a Gathering Place advocate both personally and professionally. While he runs to raise awareness and funds for The Gathering Place, the work he does in Palliative Care and Hospice at UH is admirable. He provides much needed support for patients and families faced with cancer while referring those needing psychosocial support to The Gathering Place.

At 68, Jan is a veteran marathoner and ultra-marathoner. He once ran across the state of Rhode Island (but it was “only 27 miles,” he laughs).

He is doing this PLACE2PLACE run to honor those he already assists daily on his job. “I have known a lot of people who have trusted my life over the years with cancer,” he says. “I am doing it for that reason. I want to honor all the patients who have trusted my life, and I’ve known so many people who have benefitted from the work of The Gathering Place over the years. It is an organization I like to support.”

As a nurse practitioner with the UH Oncology program, Jan’s work in palliative care starts with a focus on symptom management and family care. Focus then turns to quality of life rather than quantity of life, and that is where his marathon comes in. “I know people who want to run, but can’t. I have one patient whose son is a Marine and she wants to run the Marine Corps Marathon! I hope she can do it!”

Jan expects his PLACE2PLACE marathon to take 5-6 hours. “We will be obeying all traffic signals. And UH has given us Hi-Viz shirts to keep us safe,” he says. He will be joined by about 8 others who will run/walk portions of the course with him. University Hospitals is also encouraging employees to walk a mile with Jan.

“We hope people along his route will cheer him on,” adds Anter.

So, make your signs of encouragement. Check out The Gathering Place website for ways to support Jan. And look for Jan at along his race route from The Gathering Place in Beachwood, Green Road, Shelbourne, North Park, Coventry, Fairmount, Derbyshire, Edgehill, Cornell, Euclid* (with a loop on UH drive), Public Square, Superior (Detroit Superior bridge), Lake Avenue. Clifton Blvd. then back on Lake after crossing the river and all the way to Columbia Road in Westlake, and south on Columbia to Center Ridge Road to the Gathering Place in Westlake.

“It isn’t about me. It’s about the Gathering Place and the work that they do,” says Jan.

100 percent of the funds raised in the June 6 Race for the Place support FREE programs and services at The Gathering Place for people touched by cancer. Together, we can face cancer and embrace life. Register, Start a Team or Make a Donation Today! Go to racefortheplace.org.