
Our mother passed away from colon cancer in June of 2007 at the very young age of 54. She had successfully battled cancer after her first diagnosis in 2005 with surgery and chemotherapy but an aggressive version returned a year and a half later that she could not overcome. Kathy was raised in St. Louis and attended Cor Jesu Academy where she graduated in 1970. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Missouri State in 1974, she married her college sweetheart, David Moore, and began her teaching career at Annunziata in Ladue until the school closed. Soon after, she taught at St. Lukes for two years before taking 15 years off to raise her boys. When the youngest son, David, entered 4th grade, Kathy returned, full-time, to St. Gerard Majella and then on to Sappington School in the Lindbergh School District in 1996 as a 5th grade teacher. During this time she earned a Master of Science in Education through Maryville University.
Kathy was a fantastic mom who prepared breakfast every morning and dinner every night for her family, made our beds, grocery shopped every week, helped with homework,” liked” all of the girlfriends we brought home, slipped us money on the way out the door during college, took us on vacations, loved her dachshunds, loved her granddaughter, loved her husband of 32 years, and loved teaching kids. She volunteered for numerous school events while wearing her teacher themed sweaters and somehow managed to be a wife during that time as well. She was missed from the moment she passed away and will continue to be missed for as long as we are alive.
The purpose of this undertaking is three fold. We want to bring attention to this disease since “colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States” according to the American Cancer Society. Early screening detections have increased and therefore have helped the numbers of people developing cancer decline, but many people still are not aware of this necessary prevention. The second reason for this is continued development in our family relationships. Our mom was instrumental in gathering the family together and that must continue in her absence. Lastly, we will be feeding our natural sense of adventure. The three of us bring different skills that have never been combined to attempt something of this scale. Our journey to ready ourselves for this event will be monumental…but, in the end, our mom would be proud of us and we are ready for the challenge. jm
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