Bright tie-dye Camp Kesem shirts brought color to the gray morning as runners laced up outside Martin Middle School. The 5K aimed to raise funds for children impacted by a parent’s cancer to attend Camp Kesem programs free of charge.
“I lost my father to cancer, and really all you have to say is Kesem and I’m there,” Brent Iverson, a UT organic chemistry professor, who shared Kesem’s mission with runners before the race, said.
Running with his dog, Pop-Tart, Iverson said Kesem’s near and dear to his heart. His twin daughters co-founded the UT Austin chapter in 2011, and he’s since served on the national board of directors for eight years.
Despite the early morning, Kesem’s team brought high energy, lining the course with cheers and bright signs. One read, “Smile, you’re changing lives.”
Biology sophomore Riya Soni said the support inspired her to get involved.
“I wish I knew about (Kesem) and could have been part of this community,” Soni said. “There’s just so much energy here. Everyone’s super excited, … they come together amongst this united cause to help other kids.”
Soni said she first learned about Kesem through the 5K and quickly connected with its purpose. Growing up with parents who faced cancer and benign tumors, she strives to be a role model for children in similar situations.
“(I) just kind of had to accept that my parents could not be here tomorrow, but I didn’t realize how much it actually impacts you until you look back,” Soni said. “I want to give back to other kids … because I didn’t have that growing up.”
Runners lingered near the finish line after the race, sharing camp stories with longtime counselors. Gaurav Gupte, biomedical engineering senior, recalled the infectious joy of Kesem campers — a feeling many volunteers describe as “Kesem magic.”
“They’re going through so much at home, yet they always have the biggest smiles on their faces … they just have so much perseverance and whimsy” Gupte said. “As much of a role model I want to be for my kids, they’ve grown into being role models for me.”
One of Gupte’s favorite moments was when he woke up early to fulfill a camper’s wish of going on a sunrise walk.
“(Even if) we’re on 20 minutes of sleep, we’re willing to go that extra mile to make these memories for those kids,” Gupte said.
While the miles run at the CK5K didn’t end with shiny medals, participants received a reward that stretched far beyond the finish line. Through Kesem, students learned to support families impacted by cancer.
“You will never have a better opportunity to understand what health care really is all about … until you spend some time in a cabin with these eight-year-olds who are talking about the unthinkable happening to their parents,” Iverson said. “If you want to do something that will change your life and make you see things entirely differently, that’s Camp Kesem.”
