Hope4Heather 5k 2017

Hope4Heather will be having a 5k again this year!! We will be sponsoring Gina Lutz Koon. 

She's a mother, sister, MeMe, Aunt and one of the best friends you could ever have. She loves her family with all her heart. She has been a loyal employee and Supervisor at Carhartt for the last 30 years, and cherishes the relationships that she has made with her Carhartt Family. Gina worked 40+ hours a week and when she wasn't sleeping she loved to spend time with her grand-kids, or she would get "all gussied" up and hit up the boat for a little fun, or maybe even a nice dinner date at her favorite place Red Lobster. Gina has always been full of life and very independent!! She has so much energy and the smile on her face could brighten the darkest day, and she never meets a stranger. When she loves she loves with all she has. She has a heart of gold will always do anything for anyone.         

For the past two years Gina told her friends that something was wrong that she shouldn't be sleeping all the time. She would say I think something bad is wrong and I should know because I have lived in this skin for 56 years. She had several doctor visit, always with positive outcomes and a clean bill of health. The doctors felt the reason for her lack of energy was low iron. So we thought we had found the answer.  

On January 7 Gina woke up in the floor with a large cut on her forehead. While trying to gain her thoughts about what happened she realized she needed to go to the doctor. She got herself cleaned up and struggled to get dressed because she was disoriented and had limited use of her right hand. As she was leaving she made sure her house was locked and got in the car and realized that she had forgotten her keys. It was 4am and 17 degrees. She did the only thing she could think of to do, she blew the car horn and yelled for help for 3 hours. Thankfully around 7 a neighbor heard her horn and cries for help. We know that God was with her that morning because normally this neighbor would have been gone to work but this morning she heard her and call help for her. 

Gina was taken to Baptist Health and received stitches to her forehead. Because it was a head injury she was lifeflighted to Evansville for further testing. Upon arriving at Deaconess Hospital she received an MRI and CAT scan to insure there was no injury to her brain. This is when HER life and all our lives were turned upside down. The tests showed that she had a seizure and there were three tumors on her brain. After further testing the doctors also found a larger tumor in her lungs and determined that it was stage 4 non small cell lung cancer.  

The doctors first estimate was that she had about 1 to 2 years, but as we all know there is only ONE that can determine that. We were told that it is not curable but it can be controlled. 

Gina has been the most positive, strong , courageous woman from the beginning.

When Gina started her radiation she always made sure that she was the "WOW" factor. She would tell the medical staff "Just wait until I get better I'm gonna come back up here and show ya'll the real me." She is making the most of this new life that God has chosen for her to have. We all admire her for that and she is truly an inspiration. 

When she started her radiation treatment, because it was on her brain, it caused her "flossy belle " blonde hair, that she was known for, to fall out. Being the bold outgoing person that she is she asked her son Matt to shave it off. She decided instead being bitter over losing her hair, Gina being Gina, got excited about buying new hair. She said she would have so many different styles and colors that her house would look like a football stadium with all the heads that will be sitting around. She will sometimes joke when she isn't wearing a wig that if you find a hair in you food it ain't mine.

Every doctor, nurse, and medical professional that has ever met Gina were amazed by the outpouring of support and love that she has from family, friends and co-workers. Several have made the comment that she has more friends than anyone they have ever seen. Gina has a fire and will like no other person I have ever know. If anyone can win this fight she can with God's help. " For the battle is not yours, but God's" 2 chronicles 20:15

#together we fight

We know Heather would want us to use her name to help someone else, so that is exactly what we will do. 

You can sign up any time from now until May 27 with early sign up and May 28 - day of race with late! 

Sign up fee will be $25 (with a tshirt.)

Late sign up will be $30 (not guaranteed a tshirt)

Extra tshirts

sizes 2t- adult xl $15

Sizes 2x-5x $18

We will be accepting donations for raffles!!