Burlingame Woman Raises Awareness Through Running

When Una Kinsella lost her uncle to esophageal cancer in 2010, she had never heard of the disease. In 2011 when her close friend received a similar diagnosis, she decided to take action.

After traveling to Wales this week, Kinsella will run the Cardiff Half Marathon in honor of the two while raising funds and awareness for esophageal cancer.

“I thought, ‘Wow, two people in less than two years in my life who had been touched by this,’” said Kinsella. “I didn’t want to put off trying to do something in his honor.”

She initially thought of running the Dublin marathon, since she has family in Ireland and her uncle died in Dublin. Furthermore, the marathon route races past her uncle’s former home. But when her cousin, Maureen Fallon, shared her plans for running the half marathon in Cardiff, Kinsella joined in.

No stranger to traveling for a cause, Kinsella often works with Habitat for Humanity on trips.

“I love to travel with a purpose,” she said. “It just makes it a more fulfilling trip.”

When Kinsella decided on the half marathon, she had little time for personal fundraising. She conducted some research and found the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN), a group that raises awareness of the link between heartburn and esophageal cancer.

Moved by the story of the family that started the program, she emailed the group immediately and partnered with them in her fundraising efforts. Kinsella quickly reached her $100 per mile fundraising goal.

“Almost two years after, [my uncle’s] memory is still really alive in my family,” she said. “People have been really generous…they’re grateful I’m keeping his memory alive.”

More important than the money for Kinsella is raising awareness through the run. Even though, according to the American Cancer Society, esophageal cancer has one of the faster growing diagnosis rates, many people are unfamiliar with the symptoms. Prolonged heartburn, sore throats and trouble swallowing can all signal the disease—although such ailments often go unchecked.

When Kinsella and her cousin run, they’ll wear bright green shirts from ECAN emblazoned with “Heartburn Can Cause Cancer” on the back.

“If one person asks me about it…maybe they’ll pass the word and somebody else’s life will be saved,” she said. “People who are constantly taking stuff for indigestion, heartburn…maybe it fixes it temporarily, but maybe there’s something more serious going on that people are unaware of.”

Kinsella said had her uncle checked his symptoms sooner, his story might have had a different outcome, but she is glad she found a proper outlet for memorializing him. She said when someone passes away, loved ones often mean to honor him or her in some fashion, but as time passes other responsibility take priority.

With the support of her family and friends, Kinsella said she feels like they are all running with her—and thinking of her uncle.

“My uncle was such a huge part of our family,” she said. “When I get out of bed at 6 in the morning [for training] and I’m not enjoying it, I think of those people who suffer through this [cancer]…if they can do that, I can easily do this.”

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