A diagnosis of leukemia over the 2012 Memorial Day weekend changed Bill Outlaw’s life — a change whose ripple effect is still being felt today.
Outlaw has made a full recovery, and now it is his mission — and that of his family’s nonprofit Outlaw Foundation — to help cancer victims and their families through financial support.
And next month the public has the opportunity to be a part of that mission during the Outlaw Foundations’ ninth annual 5K Run/Walk.
The event will be held Saturday, March 11, at Carver Elementary School, 400 Old Seven Springs Road, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to provide financial assistance to families of cancer victims.
“Every person who signs up to participate, they are helping a family that is going through this time of treatment and may not be able to physically participate in something like this themselves,” said Jessica Bryan, one of the event organizers. “So, this is very helpful to donate money for those who need the assistance and are going through cancer.”
The course is USA Track & Field Certified and takes participants through neighborhoods close to Carver Elementary School.
It will include a 1-mile fun run/walk that will not be timed.
Registration will begin 7:30 a.m.
The opening ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. with the race to begin at 9:30 a.m.
An awards ceremony will follow.
Pre-registration is $25 and due by March 8; the fee is $30 on the day of the event. Register by Feb. 15 to guarantee a T-shirt.
There is no fee for participants ages 5 and younger.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
If the event has to be canceled, refunds will not be given, but race packets will be available for pickup.
Awards will be given to the top three males and females in the following age divisions: 12 and under; 13-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-64; 65 and over.
An award also will be presented for top team participation.
Register online at www.runtheeast.com or print the registration form at www.theoutlawfoundation.com.
For more information contact Bryan at jbryan@transmaint.com or 1-800-334-3452 or visit www.theoutlawfoundation.com.
Foundation facts
Since its creation in 2013, the Outlaw Foundation has helped 450 families, Bryan said.
Along with the 5K, the Outlaw Foundation also hosts a fundraising golf tournament in the fall.
The popular 5K traditionally attracts more than 200 participants annually, Bryan noted.
“It has fluctuated the past few years because of COVID,” she attested. “Before COVID we had a little over 300 to participate so hopefully that number will continue to improve with each year.
“Typically, a rough estimate over the past few years, the race usually brings in, I am going to say, between $13,000 and $14,000.”
Bryan reiterated that all proceeds go to the Outlaw Foundation to provide financial assistance to the families of cancer victims.
“We have gas and food cards,” she said. “We can help with assisting with certain utility bills such as electric, water, car payments — just your basic necessity payments. We do help with those.
“Once they are approved, they get approved for one-time assistance of $1,200. They can receive up to $1,200 in assistance and most of them do — that does amount to a lot.”
The application for assistance can be found at www.theoutlawfoundation.com. People who are not computer savvy can call 1-800-334-3452 to have a form mailed to them, she said.
“We do have people come to us though the hospital social workers who have learned about us,” Bryan said. “We do get people who apply through those hospitals who are already associated with us and have worked with us before.”
Outlaw’s prayer
The Outlaw Foundation was founded based on prayer uttered by Outlaw.
Outlaw said that for days and nights after his recovery he prayed to God over and over begging for an answer to why He let him survive.
“I promised whatever He had for me, I would make Him proud and do it to the fullest of my ability, just give me the answer and I will get started,” Outlaw says in his testimonial on the Foundation’s website. “I knew I wanted to make it a non-profit and I vowed to never take a dime from this. The goal of the foundation is to help others during these unfortunate difficult times.
“Many people lose everything they have worked for their entire lives. Our goal is to cut all of the red tape and let nurses and doctors tell us who needs the help. They know best. Then we can come in and make mortgage payments, electric bill payments, hotel expenses, or provide gas cards.”
Outlaw said he had no symptoms or signs that made him go in for anything more than a physical.
“This where the story begins and shows you how God steps in and leads you,” Outlaw says on the foundation website. “I had called my doctor’s office one week prior to my actual physical date to get an appointment with my doctor. The receptionist told me that it would be six months before I could see my doctor due to his schedule.
“I agreed that would be fine and before I hung up the phone a cancellation came up on his schedule for the following week, and I was able to get that one scheduled. This was God’s intervention. I had my physical the following Thursday and on Friday I received the news.”
Outlaw’s wife Candace met him and they went straight to the oncologist.
On that following Monday (Memorial Day), Outlaw went into the hospital to start treatment.
“The support from my family and friends was overwhelming,” he said.
