Finish line disrespectfully dismantled moments before cancer survivor completes 10k race

By Barney Riley via SWNS

A cancer-beating mom who trained for months to complete a 10-km (6.2 miles) race was left disappointed as race organizers dismantled the finish line - just as she arrived.

Lauren Davidson, 36, was greeted and congratulated by her son Isaac in a lovely moment marred by the inflatable structure being dragged away only seconds before her arrival at the finish line.

Lauren, a social worker, trained for months for the run, which took place in Grand Prairie, Texas, USA, on July 2nd but that wasn't the beginning of her journey.

Eight years ago, she started training for her first 10k run, but was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer.

After her recovery, she began training for the race again, but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage, before getting pregnant later on.

After giving birth to her son, who is seen in the video, she tore her calf muscle, which resulted in her taking time to recover.

Eventually - on her fourth attempt - Lauren managed to complete the distance but unfortunately, race organizers didn't wait for her to finish.

Lauren said: "In this video, I am rounding the final curve in my first ever 10k.

"I was feeling so much pride in myself and looked up to focus on the finish line.

"When I looked towards the finish line I saw that it was being deflated and that the timing clock was off.

"Seeing that was tough, but I powered through and ran through where the finish line had once stood.

"I got to celebrate my accomplishment with my son running into my arms and my husband cheering me on."

The training regime she undertook was right off the back of her calf injury.

"In August I couldn't even run a mile without stopping, even having previously been a runner years before."

To complete the route, it took Lauren one hour, 21 minutes and 14 seconds, according to her exercise watch.

She said: "When I first looked up and saw them dismantling the finish line, I was so incredibly disappointed.

"In my mind I had always pictured finishing my first 10k like the other 5k races I've done, running through the finish line, seeing my time, getting my medal and celebrating.

"But I didn't get any of that apart from my son and husband being there. Everyone was gone.

"I was so proud of myself for finally accomplishing this but still had to fight back tears as my finish line experience was taken from me.

"I had to go over to a table where they had packed everything up and ask someone if I could get a medal.

"They had even put away all water and post-race snacks so I didn't get any of that either.

"Once my husband and son headed home I honestly sat in my car and cried for a good five minutes before gathering myself.

"I told myself that even though the finish line experience was taken from me I still accomplished something amazing and that I needed to relish in that feeling of accomplishment.

"Looking back now I feel mostly pride, but I still feel some sadness from the way it ended."

In 2015, Lauren was diagnosed with stage 1 HER2+ breast cancer at the age of 28.

Lauren added: "I found the lump myself and had a lumpectomy, the lumpectomy showed I had Stage 1 HER2+ breast cancer.

"I went through six rounds of chemo and 36 radiation treatments. I also had another form of intravenous therapy for a year.

"Prior to my diagnosis was when I had started my first attempt at 10k training.

"Between chemo making me sick, losing my hair, and radiation burns, I had to put my running on hold until I was fully done with my course of treatment."

The following year after recovering from the cancer treatment Lauren's trauma continued when she had a miscarriage.

She said: "In November 2016 my husband and I found out I was pregnant.

"I had gotten myself back into great shape after my breast cancer treatment and was well on my way to completing my second attempt at 10k training.

"I can still remember that I took the pregnancy test the night before I had a 5k race scheduled.

"Once we saw the positive result, we were so excited, and I decided not to run the race.

"Unfortunately, the following week, a couple of days before Thanksgiving I started to have bleeding and went to the ER.

"The ER confirmed that I had suffered a miscarriage. It was one of the most difficult days of my life.

"We were devastated and the suffocating sadness that followed made it hard to want to do anything."

In December 2016, a few days before Christmas, Lauren and her husband got the news that they were once again expecting.

Lauren added: "I felt both excitement and fear at the same time.

"Since I was a runner my doctor said I could continue to run if I really wanted to, though she did not recommend it due to my previous miscarriage.

"I decided to stop running and we were blessed with Isaac 9 months later in August 2017.

"Having my son run into my arms at the end of the race was the one thing that made me feel better in that moment.

"I told my husband that if he and my son weren't there the disappointment would have hit even harder and would have been harder to overcome.

"My son is the reason I could smile at that moment.

"He is the happiest kid in the world and always says he wants 'to run like mama'."