Running for Tomorrow
If you’ve participated in athletics at some point in life, then you would know that being in a team is everything. Having constant support from your mates gives you the boost necessary to deliver a marvelous performance no matter the sport.
A recent video captured the wholesome moment of Yeva Klingbeil, a senior at Shenendehowa High School, finishing her cross country meet after she was diagnosed with cancer in November 2019. Her teammates made sure to be there to give her all the support one could ask for.
“What a great moment to see Senior Yeva Klingbeil at today’s girls track & field meet,” the school’s athletic department wrote, posting the video on Twitter.
There’s no “I” in Team
Battling with cancer is the ultimate test of persistence and determination. Klingbeil was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a rare kind of cancer that targets specifically muscle tissue mostly in teenagers. It’s truly an unfortunate circumstance, but it helps when you have a support system willing to go the distance with you no matter the adversity.
The video that has been viewed more than 180k times showed the magical moment when Klingbeil finally crossed the finish line with her teammates. Her teammates immediately flocked by her side and began chanting Klingbeil’s name triumphantly. It was enough to move her to tears.
Her fundraising page states that Klingbeil has been going through chemotherapy to treat the mass around her jaw as well as radiation treatment. After spending a few weeks in the ICU with several cancer specialists, Klingbeil was able to regain some of her normal cognitive functions and motor skills by having her tumor reduced to about half its original size.
“Yeva and her family pray her brain will continue healing and she’ll be able to breathe, walk, and eat once again,” her coach Rob Cloutier wrote on Pledge It. “While Yeva has gone through all of this and more, she has never stopped caring about her friends and family and has never given up hope of recovery.”
Cloutier also took it a step further and organized a marathon last autumn to help garner support for Klingbeil’s condition and medical expenses. The marathon amassed a whopping $21,474 that was split between Klingbeil’s bills as well as Family Reach, an organization that works with families of cancer patients by offering financial assistance.
Finishing with Confidence
Moments like these show why it’s important to uplift one another. You never know what struggles and pains one might go through on a daily basis. For Yeva, it was an experience unlike any other and one that she will likely never forget.
It’s a small reminder that humanity may not in fact be totally lost. Yeva is fighting like a warrior each day to be better and inspire more teens suffering from cancer to not give up and that it’s okay to rely on your friends and family for that confidence booster.
Check out the uplifting moment caught on video down below!
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What a great moment to see Senior Yeva Klingbeil at today’s girls track & field meet. Yeva’s teammates help her across the line in the 4X1 relay. Yeva continues her fight with cancer and we continue to be amazed by her spirit!! @CoachCloutier @ShenNews @Agostinoni_Ron pic.twitter.com/pMs35dYLgY
— ShenAthletics (@ShenAthletics) May 25, 2021
