CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) —"I was a nerd..." said Brendan Harley. "I liked Legos, and I built models all the time."
Growing up, Harley loved problem-solving. The Boston native knew how to solve an equation when it was put in front of him. Harley, however, knew where to find peace outside of the models.
"Running is a sport that is a very public display of personal commitment..." explained Harley. For the past few years, Harley has been running miles on top of miles. Each run is fueled by the same three words: Never give up.
Those words became the model of Harley's life, and the model he would study as if his life depended on it.
"I still remember it..." Harley recalled. "My mom got a phone call, hung up, and said we're going to the hospital."
In 1995, the high school junior was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. In a moment, he went from taking the SAT to sitting in a hospital bed on the Oncology floor.
But, there was one chance at beating the disease.
"The doctor said there's one shot. It's something called a bone marrow transplant. It's experimental. They do it at Dana-Farber, and we're going to figure out how to get you there."
With prayers, and a successful bone marrow transplant from his brother, Harley's life was saved. He owes it all, to the Dana Farber in Boston. As he laces up his sneakers to take on the biggest run in Boston, he knows he was given his life to save countless others.
Harley decided that he was going to dedicate all of the money raised to Dana Farber, to help fund the basic science and cancer research for today's patients.
Harley recalls, it's been 10,854 days since his life was saved. "The only day you're really promised is today."
As Harley cherishes each day of his life today, he uses his story to shape students and the future of medicine at The University of Illinois.
He uses his three word model, Never Give Up, to continue studying the science that saved him. Every dollar raised towards his Boston Marathon run, is for the future of cancer.
"You find joy in the moment, and then you get to the next day."
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