Dad's leukemia diagnosis inspires son to organize awareness run

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The owner of  Fit 2 Run is all about, you guessed it, running. But he's also taking steps to help the community through the sport they love.

Parks Robinson spends his weekends helping folks organize races that ultimately raise money for charitable causes.

He's worked on races stretching from Sarasota to Hillsborough County but his most recent run has become his most important. 

The Holiday Hope Run supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Up until a few months ago, cancer wasn't a thought.

Now he wants to spread the awareness he wished he had.

"Going through it, you would want... awareness and you want to know what’s out there," he said. 

It's become personal. His father, Bill Robinson was diagnosed with leukemia. 

"It was a shock. It was someone punching me in the gut," said Robinson. 

His dad, an avid runner and outdoorsman, had to slow his pace as he faced chemotherapy, testing and the long wait for a bone marrow transplant. Through it all, he's never let it bring him down. 

"He's a fun loving guy. Great mentor. Probably the most positive guy I know," said Robinson. 

Parks wants to spread awareness and an understanding that cancer can be beaten with much-needed support. 

"If we can bring awareness and saving one person and have a healthy dad over the holidays…that’s my hope and that’s the holiday hope run," he said. 

The Holiday Hope Run 5K will be held at IMG Academy on December 15 at 8 a.m.

For more information visit:  https://www.facebook.com/HolidayHopeRun/ or https://www.fit2run.com/holiday-hope-run