Running for a reason
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – 'I had a seven-month-old baby, I was working at Motley Rice here in Mt. Pleasant and I received a call from a doctor at MUSC and they said come down now,' said Sara Couch.
In 2021 at 34 years old, Couch was told she had stage three cervical cancer.
'It was very scary, I was in a little room and the doctor came in and seven residents came in and I was like, this is not a good sign.'
At the time, the doctors were worried it may be stage four cancer, which is a terminal diagnosis.
Luckily for Couch it hadn't spread that far and she is now in remission
Sara began running after she finished treatment.
'It was just recommended as a good way to help reduce occurrence and mortality risks to get your strength back, your immune system.'
On Monday she will run in the Boston Marathon as part of the Dana-Farber team. After her initial diagnosis, Sara received a second opinion from the cancer institute in Boston.
Dana-Farber also funded an immuno-therapy drug that was helpful to Couch as well.
'Every time I run I just feel such immense gratitude to even have the ability to be that healthy because when I finished treatment I was in a wheelchair. I started walking five minutes, then I would walk ten minutes.'
Being able to combine something she's so appreciative for, with now being able to help others is very personal for Sara.
'I was gifted so much, right, I was gifted family that helped, an employer that helped, amazing amazing medical care from a lot of doctors and a lot of institutions that came together and that's why I'm here.' Couch said. 'And it took everyone, so if I can give back just a little bit to someone else to have that chance with their daughter, that's what I want to do.'
From barely being able to walk for five minutes, Couch is now gearing up to run 26 miles.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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