We created IMO’s Kids in honor of our mother, Imogene Bertram. Diagnosed in 2000 with stage 3C ovarian cancer, our mom was the matriarch of our family and like most families, was the one who held everything together. When we first learned of the diagnosis, we were in shock. In 1972, Mom had undergone a hysterectomy and all of us had understood her ovaries to have been removed. Imagine our surprise at an ovarian cancer diagnosis!

Treatments were challenging and painful. Mom complained very little and continued to have a wonderful attitude about life. She kept the rest of us thinking positively. When the day came that she knew a cure would not happen in her lifetime, she continued to pray for a cure to save other women from this devastating disease.

Faith, prayers, and bits of good news from doctors kept Mom going for two full years, always with a smile on her face.

In 2002, after hearing about the event from a friend, I participated in my first Swedish SummeRun. The day was transforming for me in many ways. I gathered information and made a commitment to form a team of family members and friends for the following year - 2003. In January 2003 we were told there was no hope - the cancer had spread and there was nothing more that could be done. Our mother succumbed to ovarian cancer on May 31, 2003.

We have participated in the Swedish SummeRun every year since then. I will continue to support this event with our team, "Imo's Kids", in memory of our mother and in honor of all women with ovarian cancer. We will fight with them until the day a cure is found!!

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