Kate Hagerty
Posted by Love Hope Strength on Apr 4, 2008
Kate was born in Dearborn, MI and was raised in Michigan and Ohio. After obtaining a degree in Psychology from Miami University of Ohio, Kate got a job that took her to New York City. After three transformational years there, she sought out and secured a transfer to Chicago where she lived for 16 years. While there, Kate ran the Chicago Marathon twice, participated regularly in the Chicago Half Marathon, cycled in numerous centuries and escaped to ski out west whenever she could. While Kate loved Chicago, she also knew it wasn’t where she’d be forever. Eventually, the endless, gray, biting winters became unbearable and the itch to move on to new horizons could no longer be ignored.
Kate’s friends and family had heard her talk about moving to Colorado for years. She wanted to be able to enjoy four seasons, a winter that she could actually function in versus just endure and she wanted to be able to do the things she loved most on a more regular basis-skiing, hiking, canoeing, cycling, running and more. The fact that Colorado offers 300 days a year of sunshine only sealed the deal for her.
Kate has enjoyed a twenty year career in sales, advertising and marketing, and has held positions on both the agency and corporate sides of the business. In August 2006, Kate decided that “it was time”, got a job with a Denver advertising agency and moved in March 2007. Kate loves it here and was thrilled to be able to go white water rafting for her first time just a few months after she arrived.
Cancer has touched Kate’s life significantly. Kate’s Uncle Bill is a cancer survivor and, as part of his treatment, has endured radiation and “radical neck surgery” where his salivary glands and some neck tissue were removed. Kate’s sister-in-law, Lori, recently discovered that her mother, Mimi, has lung cancer and that it has spread to her liver and brain. Mimi is currently undergoing radiation, chemotherapy and steroid treatments and weighs just 95 lbs.
Kate was affected most deeply when her dear friend, Judy Brauer, informed her that her “cancer was back”. Kate was supportive as she could be while Judy courageously endured all types of (new) treatments, tests and their unavoidable, painful side effects. Judy died less than a year later of ovarian cancer at age 38 and it truly broke Kate’s heart.
Kate has always been drawn to helping others. When she can combine an athletic challenge with being able to do that, she is even more enamored. She has run in 5k, 8k and 10K events to benefit Breast Cancer and the homeless, cycled twice from Minneapolis to Chicago through her participation in the Tanqueray AIDS Ride and is now thrilled to have this opportunity to hike to Machu Picchu, a place she has wanted to visit for YEARS! Even better, she will be simultaneously raising funds to help cancer centers around the world, including ALINEN, a group of Peruvian women cancer survivors that now volunteer their time to supporting INEN (The National Institute of Neoplastic Hospital).
Kate is absolutely thrilled to be able to participate on this fantastic trek sponsored by the Love Hope Strength Foundation and is looking forward to what she knows will be a life changing experience.
