Colorful balloons representing different types of cancer adorned the finish line at Frenchtown Pond State Park on Sept. 30 at the second annual Fuel the Fight 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. The event is a fundraiser to provide pre-paid fuel cards to help cancer patients in rural communities around Missoula off-set the costs of traveling to and from their treatments.

Frenchtown resident and breast cancer survivor, Barb Marlenee, was at the finish line to serve treats and thank the runners and walkers for their support. Marlenee, one of 22 recipients of pre-paid fuel cards from Fuel the Fight, spent the last year traveling over 40 miles roundtrip each time she went in to Missoula for treatments. “If not for you and the fuel monies I would not have made all my treatments in my vehicle. Thanks again and God Bless,” wrote Marlenee recently in a note to Race Director Carly Lewis.

Inspiration for the fundraiser came to Lewis while on a run one morning. “I had just heard of Barb’s diagnosis and was heart-broken for her, knowing the trials she’d be facing in the coming months. I wanted to do something to help her and others in our community who are battling cancer—something practical, but something big.”

After seeing both her mother and mother-in-law travel from their rural communities to cancer treatments in cities 30-100 miles away, Lewis knew the toll all that travel could have on an already-stretched budget. Lewis’ mother, Kay Kidwell, lives in North Carolina and survived her cancer ordeal.

But the memory helped to spur Lewis to organize the first Fuel the Fight fundraiser last October with the help of friends and her church community. Registration fees from the run were used to purchase $100 fuel cards that could be used at any Town Pump in Montana. Cards were distributed throughout the year as Lewis and others in the Outdoorsmen Church community learned of friends and neighbors in need.

This year’s event was once again held at the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October and attracted over 60 runners and walkers. Including Alberton resident, Terry Decker, who received one of the cards last year and has been undergoing treatments.

The Frenchtown Girls Scouts troop also donated $100 to the cause from their cookie sales. One of their members, who attends school in Alberton, had their father diagnosed with cancer and he passed away this year.

“It was very emotional when they presented their donation,” said Lewis.

This year’s event brought in over $2,300 which will all go toward the cards. They are distributed on a first come, first serve basis and there are no restrictions on who can receive one, “we’ve given one to a lady from Seeley Lake as well as a man from Arlee,” she said.

The fuel cards are inserted into a greeting card that reads, “Someone who cares sent you this card to fuel your vehicle as well as your spirit.”

Lewis has worked as a wildlife biologist for the Lolo National Forest for 11 years and lives with her husband and son in Frenchtown. She encourages anyone who knows of an individual who could use a fuel card to visit their website at outdoorsmenchurch.com and follow the “Fuel the Fight” link.