A letter from Jess…

3 years ago I decided I wanted to run the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k. I wasn't a runner (and I am still not really one) but I thought it would be something fun. Josh and I were dating at the time and he was a source of encouragement throughout the 10 week YMCA training. During training is when I heard about the Massey Challenge and I was immediately interested because Josh is a Leukemia Survivor (7 years in remission!). I raised around $200 (in honor of Josh's struggle) and on race day I wore a bib saying I was running for him. He was one of my biggest fans and supporters throughout the process and he decided he would run with me the next year.

We really banned together and got the word out about the Massey Challenge the next year. It had even more meaning because Josh had a scare and visited Massey Cancer Center for testing. Luckily, everything was fine. Together we raised $500 and we completed 10k training and ran the 10k! We were at very different fitness levels, Josh has been an athlete his whole life and is still quite fit, and we would bicker regularly while training, but we made it through together. During the training season, in February 2013, we were engaged. This is where we kind of got the nickname "Fancy Fiances" because we would call each other Fancy instead of fiance. Josh stuck by my side the whole run, even when I needed a break, and we had a blast. This year he wore a survivor bib and I had one that said in honor of Josh with an arrow so everyone could see when we ran together.

Finally, in 2014, I was looking for a good birthday present, and since 10k registration was out I made our team Fancy Fiances and donated in Josh's honor for his birthday. His present was first an "I Run RVA" T-shirt, then the papers showing his registration and the donation information. We have been getting to the gym regularly and going on walks with our new puppy, Moose the miniature Dachshund.

So we are busy planning our wedding, it is at Douthat State Park on September 27th, 2014, training for a 10k, and managing our 2 cats and a puppy and trying to find time to enjoy being Fancy Fiances.

Thank you!

Jess Dodson and Josh Harris

***Update, Jess and Josh were married on September 27, 2014. Congratulations!