On January 10, the streets of Lexington filled with 700 runners for the 17th Annual Resolution Run to Kick Cancer, a 5k race that welcomed cancer survivors, family members and others. They were joined by nearly 100 virtual racers throughout the country. This year’s top finishers were Tim O’Neill of Brookline and Shana Frank of Weston.
The idea for the Resolution Run to Kick Cancers started in the Fall of 2009. The race’s founders, Lexington residents Cathy Gill, Christine Mitchell, and Ines Fusco, each had been personally impacted by cancer: Gill and Mitchell through family members and friends, and Fusco as a breast cancer survivor.
“It was a combination of thinking that a 5K might be a good vehicle for fundraising and fun community event, and the three of us wanting to raise money for cancer research and treatment,” Gill said.
Among the more than 250 runners who participated in the very first Resolution Run to Kick Cancer in 2010 was Frank McCall. Just one year after his prostate cancer diagnosis and surgery, McCall said the race marked a turning point: it motivated him to recommit to exercise and prioritize his health.
“It meant a lot to me because it was the first real physical challenge I took on after my surgery,” McCall told LexObserver. “It felt good to be back out running, and it motivated me to keep going. That race helped me focus on my health and put prostate cancer in the past.”
While the race has grown over the years, McCall believes what makes the Resolution Run to Kick Cancer special is what has remained unchanged. For him, the event’s consistency has created a sense of familiarity that keeps him returning year after year.
“It feels like the same small race,” McCall told LexObserver. “It’s organized by some of the same group of women who started it many years ago, and even though I only meet them once a year, I feel a connection.”
This year, McCall was especially moved by the personal stories shared at the run, including that of Team Nicole. Led by Troy Cutler, the team was formed in memory of his wife Nicole, who passed away from breast cancer and leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in April 2025. Team Nicole has grown into one of the race’s largest teams, with more than 130 members, and has raised over $7,000 in individual donations.
“It’s been really impactful for me, as well as for [Nicole’s] family and friends,” Cutler said. “By directing funds toward LMD research at Dana-Farber, we’re hoping to make progress against a rare form of cancer that doesn’t receive much funding.”
The Resolution Run to Kick Cancer has a long history of partnering with Lexington businesses to provide generous prizes for the top finishers, an aspect that Mitchell describes as a “unique feature of a smaller community race.”
“For some of these local businesses, supporting the race is personal: they’ve had family members face a cancer diagnosis,” Gill told LexObserver. “This is their way of giving back, supporting the cause, and acknowledging those experiences.”
Alongside the prizes, the Resolution Run to Kick Cancer also benefits from generous donations from local restaurants. The event is practically a feast: breakfast pastries, bagels, munchkins, and coffee greet runners in the morning, while after the race, participants are treated to a spread of pizza, lasagna, and Indian and Thai food.
“I heard from a runner that a neighbor had recommended the race and said it had great food,” Mitchell said. “It is our hope that people who participate in the race will give back to these businesses.”
But for organizers, the Resolution Run to Kick Cancer’s sense of community extends far beyond what’s served at the finish line. Gill emphasized that the event is just as intentional about who it honors in post-race celebrations.
“In addition to top overall finishers, we recognize and award prizes to the top three finishers among male and female cancer survivors. We also have special “Honored Hero” and “Running for the Cause” awards to acknowledge those who are participating in the race because of the impact cancer has had on them,” Gill said.
That same intentionality carries over to how the race’s proceeds are distributed. Rather than focusing solely on research, the non-profit also prioritizes organizations that directly support patients and their families.
“One of the organizations we’ve supported is Caring for a Cure at Mass General, which focuses on patient well-being,” Gill told LexObserver. “It’s run by nurses who provide comfort items and help patients feel cared for during their hospital stays. We’ve directed funds toward the creation of art kits for patients and their families. Providing art activities for MGH patients was the idea of local resident Allie (Franks) Sweet who lost her life to cancer in 2024.”
For many runners, the Resolution Run to Kick Cancer’s impact lies not just in raising money, but in the trust they place in the race organizers to ensure those funds are distributed thoughtfully and effectively.
“I feel more connected supporting cancer research when I can trust local people to direct the money in meaningful ways. That community aspect, trusting people to take the time to do the right thing, really matters to me,” McCall said.
For Cutler, the race becomes a way to honor his wife and remember her impact on others around her.
“Nicole was never afraid of a problem or a challenge,” Cutler told LexObserver. “Even in the darkest times, she was always the light she brought to other people. One hundred thirty people might sound like a lot, but if you knew Nicole, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
According to Gill and Mitchell, providing a way for people to come together as a team and a community to honor loved ones who are battling cancer or have lost their life to the disease is the foundation of the annual event. The event has a committed group of volunteers and participants who come back year after year to make the race a success.
You can learn more about the Resolution Run to Kick Cancer and the local businesses who support the race here.