>> My dad was this amazing person that loved his family.
He loved college basketball.
Most of all, he loved running.
>> Bill just had a passion for running and he -- if he wasn't able to run, he would be
not a happy camper.
>> He started running when he was about 30.
By the time he was 50-years-old, he ran like 15 marathons, a lot of races and it really
defined his life.
>> That's what was so hard when he was diagnosed with cancer.
>> My dad was a really healthy man.
He started having trouble when he was running.
>> He would go out to run and he'd come in after a couple of miles and say, you know,
he didn't feel well.
>> Bill Foran was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer.
>> He had a colonoscopy and they found what they thought was going to be something that
was very curable, as colon cancer usually is when caught early.
>> He came in for routine colon surgery and at the time of his surgery, was found to have
extensive metastatic disease.
>> They found cancer all through his body; in his abdomen, in his liver.
He was just, you know, a couple days ago, this really, really healthy man who just wasn't
feeling well.
>> The expected survival for someone with his condition would be about a year.
>> He lived for six years and they never expected him to live more than a few months.
>> So anyway, some really good pictures to go over and it will bring back a lot of good
memories, I'm sure.
Bill took on the challenge of his diagnosis as he would a marathon with incredible courage,
determination and strength and he defied the odds and survived an incredible six years
following his diagnosis.
>> In the six year that he fought the cancer, he got to see six grandchildren.
>> And I just think that his family was his strength and his support and he was determined
to spend time with them.
>> He really wanted to live as long as he could to spend time with his family.
>> That's a good picture.
>> Yeah, that's a great one.
>> Margie I think really bonded with my dad because she was a runner.
>> And when you got that running bond boy, you know how runners -- [inaudible] runners,
they have their backs [inaudible], you know, they really do.
>> The running bond that I think my dad and Margie had was really special and that's ultimately
what I think inspired her to start the Colon Cancer 5K in his memory.
>> It was, you know, for me, an honor and a blessing to do that race.
It was a gift and his spirit was there every single year.
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>> My friend, Ann Bob, and I went to see Bill Foran on the day that he passed away and at
that point in time, he really didn't have the energy to speak and I was talking about
running the God's Country Marathon in [inaudible] and there was so much uphill in that course
and at that moment, his eyes flew open and he looked directly at me and said no, there
was a lot of downhill too.
Then he closed his eyes and to me, that summarized his journey with cancer that even though it
was very difficult, it was very tough, he made sure that there were some good times
as well.
>> Bernie, you did a great job with handing out those awards.
>> I said to my friend, Ann, we've got to do something to keep that spirit alive and
so we started like Colon Cancer 5K in honor of Bill.
>> Those glass mugs, they were a crowd pleaser.
>> His legacy to me is just the inspiration and determination and how he took control
of his disease and he did not let it control him.
>> You know, just the work that she put into it every year remembering my father was amazing
and it was very inspiring.
>> Well, you dad was a special guy, like no other.
Let me tell you, he's one of those people that we will never, ever forget.
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