Ann Arbor Carrs prep for 2nd annual RunTough for ChadTough races

By Jeremy Allen The Ann Arbor News ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Last year was an especially tough one for the Carr family. Four-year-old Chad Carr, the grandson of legendary University of Michigan head football coach Lloyd Carr, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in September 2014 - one that is inoperable, and more difficult to treat than many other cancers. Through every trial test and surgery and doctor visit, and through every other up and down, the community has shown its support for the family in a number of ways, according The Ann Arbor News. The Michigan athletic community embraced the family with visits during his hospital stay, twice naming Chad an honorary team captain, including once during this year's home opener Sept. 12. Communities have done everything from adopting resolutions of support to contributing to bake sales and donations drives and participating in the 5k race Chad's mom, Tammi Carr, organized. This year, the family is hosting the second annual RunTough for ChadTough races, presented by the Ted & Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation. "Last year, we had over 500 people participate, but it was planned in about a month," Tammi Carr said. "We are hoping for 1,000 people this year." The race generated about $30,000, which helped support the family as they made several trips to and from clinical trials in New York, and for other medical expenses that weren't covered by the family's insurance. This year, the money will go toward The ChadTough Foundation, which Tammi and her husband Jason Carr started to support research for DIPG, Chad's rare form of cancer. The run will take place Oct. 3, at Harvest Elementary School in Saline. The race will start at 9 a.m., with bib and T-shirt pickup taking place 4:30-6 p.m. Oct. 2 at the school and again starting at 8 a.m. the morning of the race. In addition to a 5k, this year's run will feature a 1-mile run and a 10k run. The races will be timed, and awards will be given for each age division. Participants can register at www.chadtough.org/run, or sign up on-site the day of the race. "The first 500 people registered will get a dry-fit shirt and a water bottle. We also have some great prizes for the top three fundraising teams and the top three individual fundraisers," Tammi Carr said. "There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer for people who don't run but would like to get involved. They can also register as a volunteer online. " Tammi Carr said the Bernard L Maas Foundation is going to match every fundraising dollar up to $25,000 for the race. "So, if someone becomes a fundraiser or puts together a fundraising team, the foundation will get $2 for every dollar they get pledged for the run. They can register as a fundraiser on the website as well," she said. The Carrs remain prayerful that Chad's condition will get better after the initial prognosis that he would only live for about six months from the time he was diagnosed. Now, a year later - after intense chemotherapy sessions, several surgeries and cycling on and off different medications - Chad is two weeks away from celebrating his 5th birthday, and his body has been accepting the latest treatments he's received. Published: Wed, Sep 30, 2015