Stories of Impact

For Kenny Fisher, running the Paris Marathon each year for the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has grown into more than just a way to raise money for our research. It’s taken on personal, special meaning for him as a way to connect with friends, family and even strangers who are fighting, surviving or have lost their lives to cancer. 

“Running the Paris marathon is so important to me because it’s a way of honoring and remembering the loved ones I’ve lost to this deadly disease. And it’s also a way for folks who support me to keep their loved ones’ races going.”

Kenny lost his mother and best friends to cancer and believes that the AICR guidelines focusing on healthy eating and exercise are no-brainers. “Obviously marathon running is intense exercise,” he notes, “but even if I wasn’t doing this, its seems clear that physical activity improves your health.”

Kenny has run the Paris Marathon for AICR every year from 2016 through 2019. In total, he’s run 172 marathons since 1984 and his legs have crossed the finish line in all 50 US states, the Canadian provinces and most of the countries in Europe.

Today, as he’s become more involved with nonprofits like AICR, running in marathons has taken on a new meaning for Kenny.  ”Not only do I help raise money,” he explains (to date, Kenny has raised $16,000 for AICR and counting), “but also, running for AICR connects me with an incredible community,” says Kenny. “There’s a real desire out there to be proactive about your health—and I think running and exercising is a great way to represent that feeling.”

We know exactly what he means.

See you at the finish line, Kenny.