‘A lot of firsts’ at 35th Annual Beat the Odds Event

Nearly 400 people participate in fundraiser for cancer support hosted for first time on UAS campus

Jessica Gross wears a bee costume for the Beat the Odds two-mile walk at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Gross’ mother died of cancer last year. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

By Natalie Buttner

Juneau Independent

Rungsri Seehawong and Angela Miller walked the two-mile route at today’s Beat the Odds: A Race Against Cancer event. “We’re both cancer survivors," Miller said proudly. 

“I was Angela's emotional support when she went through, and then five, six years later I was diagnosed with breast cancer and she was my support,” Seehawong said. 

The race raises money for Cancer Connection, a nonprofit that supports Southeast Alaskans battling cancer. For patients who have to leave the state for care, Cancer Connection provides travel assistance and access to an apartment in Seattle where patients can stay while they undergo treatment.

“That's why we come here, because they were an amazing resource for me and my husband,” said Miller, who has fought cancer twice since 2017. “I had to travel a lot both times and they helped ease that financial burden.” 

Angela Miller and Rungsri Seehawong smile after completing the Beat the Odds two-mile walk at the University of Alaska Southeast Campus on Aug. 15, 2026. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

According to the Cancer Connection Executive Director Christy Ciambor, 398 people participated in this year’s event that offers two-mile walk and 5K race courses. 

Though this is the 35th annual Beat the Odds race, Ciambor said this year’s race had “a lot of firsts.” Ciambor herself became the organization’s first executive director in May. 

The year was also the first time the race has been held at the University of Alaska Southeast campus, with the 5K course wrapping around Auke Lake. Race director Kim Mauseth said that she appreciated that the new venue allowed all the racers to finish in the same place, regardless of whether they were walking or running. 

“Us runners and volunteers often missed out on the post-event activities such as the door prizes and live auctions,” she said. “Now we're all together and so I'm really really excited about that.” 

Guy Crockroft, Johanna Crossett and Madeline Sullivan, 10, sprint towards the finish line at the Beat the Odds 5K at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Crossett is a breast cancer survivor who stayed in Cancer Connection’s apartment in Seattle while she was undergoing treatment. “Finishing with Maddie was such a joy to me because she's such a beautiful soul,” Crossett said. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

In addition to raising money for educational events and patient support, Cancer Connection Board Chair Sheryl Weinberg said the event also aimed to distribute materials regarding cancer prevention and increase awareness of the available services. 

“One of our goals is to not only support people as they go through the journey, but hopefully to heighten awareness, so that people, if they have some concerns, they go early,” Weinberg said. “That they get screenings to catch and nip cancer in the bud.” 

In another first earlier this month, Cancer Connection received a $110,000 grant from the Rural Health Transformation Program. According to Ciambor, the grant will fund a Southeast Alaska Cancer Network, which will streamline resources for patients across the region. 

“By the end of year five the idea is that we're a fully operational network, which will benefit patients and providers,” Ciambor said. 

Mackayla Orr crosses the finish line of the Beat the Odds 5K run at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

In the race’s 5K, Ian Novak finished first with a time of 18:26, followed by Peter Flynn at 20:39. The women’s first-place finisher, Olivia Glasscock, was short to follow at 21:02. 

“Running for a cause is always better than just running,” Novak said. 

Elizabeth Phillips ran the 5K race in honor of loved ones she had lost to cancer. 

“I lost my 15-year-old niece to cancer…I do it for her.” Phillips said.

• Contact Natalie Buttner at natalieb@juneauindependent.com.

Runners start the 5K route at the Beat the Odds event at the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

Women’s first-place finisher Olivia Glasscock starts the Beat the Odds 5K run at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

Jo Thompson and Sierra Kryzer hold hands to cross the finish line at the Beat the Odds 5K run at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. “I think we all have family and friends who had cancer and needed support, but we might too at some point,” Kryzer said. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)

Rachel Lewis and Teresa Mallinger start on the 2K walk route for the Beat the Odds event at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Independent)