When Dustin Hass ran his first marathon, the Portland Half Marathon, with his wife on October 4, 2009, his mother, Diane Hass and her husband, John “Jack” Arnold, came to watch and cheer them on.
Now, four years later, Dustin ran the Portland Half Marathon again but this time, in honor of Jack Arnold, who passed away from complications related to esophageal cancer on July 31, 2015.
Dustin created an online fundraiser benefiting The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation and writes on the site that he “chose to do a charity entry in his honor and to help raise awareness about esophageal cancer.”
On October 4, 2015, which also happens to be Diane’s birthday, Dustin ran a personal best of 1:40:05 and placed 10th in his division. He also surpassed his initial fundraising goal of $650, raising over $1,100.00 for The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, which will bring awareness to esophageal cancer and fund research.
Dustin writes of Jack: “He will be missed dearly by our family and many others. He did so much to help our family and he was a loving companion to my mother.” Diane, who planned a trip back to Portland to watch Dustin run the half-marathon this year, was there to celebrate with her son after the race.
On behalf of The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, we would like to thank Dustin for bringing awareness to esophageal cancer and raising much needed funds for awareness and research!
Join us on our Facebook page to congratulate Dustin on running his personal best and far exceeding his fundraising goal in honor of Jack Arnold. Thank you, Dustin!
Dustin Hass and his mother, Diane Hass at the 2015 Portland Half Marathon. Raising awareness and research funding for esophageal cancer. Image courtesy of: Dustin Hass. All rights reserved.
For more information about esophageal cancer and how you can get involved and make a difference, visit the following:
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation 