By Karen Fernau
GCU News Bureau
The runaway bride once again will compete in the Grand Canyon University Foundation Run to Fight Childhood Cancer, but without a flowing wedding veil on her head and her bridesmaids at her side.
For the seventh annual race, Andrea Hogan will run the 5K (3.1 miles) with her husband, Josh, at her side and Ella, 2, and Emmett, 4 months, in a jogging stroller.
“Run to Fight is my favorite charity at GCU. I wouldn’t miss the race for anything,” said the assistant professor of psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Hogan backs up her claim with a perfect attendance. She has finished all six Run to Fights, even one held in San Diego.
A seasoned runner, Hogan has no expectations of breaking her best time. “I’m just getting back into race shape after having my son, so I am running the shorter race and pushing two kids.”
Hogan typically blends into the crowd of runners, walkers and volunteers — except in 2013. That year, a scheduling glitch led to her race-stopping, veil-wearing run. The only day her friends could host her bachelorette party was on Run to Fight day.
For Hogan, a nine-year employee of GCU, there was no contest. The race always wins.
Her solution was to celebrate her bachelorette party at Run to Fight.
In another touch of whimsy, Hogan and her bridal party dressed in circa 1980s clothing — lots of fluorescent colors and headbands.
Unlike with Julia Roberts, star of the 1999 movie, “Runaway Bride,” Hogan’s fame was short-lived.
“Nobody recognizes me as the runaway bride, and that’s OK. The race is for raising money to find a cure for an underfunded disease,” said Hogan, who also is working on her GCU doctoral degree in psychology.
On Saturday, March 11, she’ll blend in with several thousand participants in an event that has raised $450,000 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital and its research into cancer cures and for Children’s Cancer Network, a Chandler-based nonprofit that supports children and their families. To register, click here.
Hogan, 33, enjoys more than just running in the race. Her after-race “favorite” is the cancer survivors walk.
“It’s so emotional to see the kids walking or riding in wagons with the cheerleaders urging them on,” she said.
“The race is really about the kids. That’s why I run.”
Contact Karen Fernau at (602) 639-8344 or [email protected].
