30 for Ana is underway! The 30-mile run to honor Ana Barron Garcia, raise awareness about inflammatory breast cancer and endure the pain of running 30 miles, all while raising funds for The Rose, is scheduled for November 2. The run route includes many of the orgranizations that touched Ana’s final days beginning at 4 a.m. at
30 for Ana is a 30 mile run that was created by members of Ana’s Angels, Daniel Barron, Sandra Barron Aguilar, John Barron Jr. (Ana’s 3 siblings) and Gerry Garcia (Ana’s husband).
Ana’s Angels was formed by Ana Barron Garcia in 2005, the year she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The group was intended to be a support group for Ana and made up of family and friends. Ana’s Angels did just that. They supported Ana along her journey with breast cancer and the support was apparent every year as they participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Houston. Ana’s Angels participated in the Race for the Cure beginning in 2005, and through 2009 with Ana by their side. 2010 would be the 1st year to participate with Ana only in their hearts, but in this year the group would grow to 200+ supporters. They would also see Ana being honored as the Halliburton Hometown Hero, nominated by The Rose. In 2011, Ana Angels was holding steady at 200+ supporters. Even in Ana’s passing it was amazing to see that Ana’s Angels is still making their presence known.
However, in 2012 with only a month and half until the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Daniel Barron realized that he and Ana’s Angels needed to make more of an effort to raise funds for this cause.
With his passion for running, he thought of “30 for 20 for Ana”. He would run 30 miles in an attempt to raise $20,000. He brought his idea to his other siblings, Sandra and Johnny, and Ana’s husband Gerry. Without hesitation they agreed to take on this challenge.
So the 4 of them, along with the support from their wives, husband, parents and significant others, laid out the details. Their plan was to start at MD Anderson and end at Grandview Cemetery in Pasadena where Ana is buried. Along the way they were to cross several places that were significant in Ana’s battle. Their first stop was Houston Hospice on Holcombe and Braeswood where Ana spent her last 3 days of her life. Twenty miles further along the route they would stop at The Rose near Fuqua and I45. The Rose was instrumental in Ana’s diagnosis and was a strong support group for Ana.
“30 for 20 for Ana” was important for many reasons. It was a way they could raise money…which they ended up raising about $14,000, short of their $20,000 goal. It was also a way they could honor Ana. Although she didn’t show it, they all knew it was a painful experience for Ana. They wanted to put their bodies through 30 miles of pain, knowing that it was nothing compared to the pain Ana went through. It was also a way to raise awareness as they wore their pink and ran across the city.
With the help from their family and friends, The Rose, Susan G. Komen Houston, Grandview Cemetery, Houston Chronicle, Channel 2 News and Mamarita’s, the inaugural event was more than they could have ever imagined.
In 2013, the event was renamed to “30 for Ana”, and grew exponentially. The founders also decided to reroute their fundraising to The Rose.
The Rose is a non-profit breast cancer organization whose mission is to reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing access to screening, diagnostics, and treatment services to any women regardless of her ability to pay.
The Rose is where Ana was diagnosed. Ana was the 1st young woman The Rose diagnosed through their young women’s services. During her journey, Ana would volunteer at The Rose and tried to educate other women with breast cancer.
The 2013 30 for Ana event raised nearly $32,000 for The Rose. Dorothy Gibbons, the co-founder and CEO of The Rose, pledged that the full amount would fund the young women’s services in honor of Ana. (See story.)
