Keeping The Memory Of A Sand Springs Wife And Mother Alive

By LeAnne Taylor, The News On 6

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 200,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Nearly 40,000 of those women will die.

Behind those statistics are family and friends who are left wondering what happens next. For one Oklahoma family, they've decided to join the fight by racing with a purpose.

August is a really hard month for Mark Bundy and his sons, 14-year old Cole and 10-year old Caleb. It was four years ago they lost the love of their lives.

Wife and mother Vicky Bundy battled breast cancer that spread to her brain.

"We thought we caught it early, one lymph node involvement, we'd heard of people having 20 and 30 lymph node involvement and still alive so we thought we'd caught it early, we'll go through this chemo, we'd go through the radiation and everything would be fine. We'd just have to go in for the early checkups and make sure it hadn't spread anywhere. We thought we'd be going in for the five year, ten year, 15 year type goals we would set," said Mark Bundy.

Within 18 months, the cancer had ravaged her body, leaving her blind and deaf the last three months of her life.

"There's no answers, there's no answers at all. I just have to deal with it. I get to see the boys every day and they remind me of her," said Mark Bundy.

"When we talk about her death and stuff, I get upset, and her memories but just talking about her. It's ok," said Cole Bundy, Vicky's son.

Every September since her death, the Bundy's have gathered a team to Race for the Cure.

Family, friends and even some of Vicky's students she taught at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs turn out to be a part of Vicky's Entourage.

Each year, the team had grown and consistently raises thousands of dollars to help find a cure.

"I really try to make this a great event in memory of her and obviously for the survivors and for the people who may get the disease later on. I mean I'm looking at my kids and I'm hoping one day kids my age will not have to lose their mother," said Mark Bundy.

The race is truly a family affair.

"I think it was last year I started the three mile walk 'cause my aunt always did that with all of her friends and so I'm starting to do that," said Caleb Bundy, Vicky's son.

So look for the Bundy boys in the bright blue shirts, racing to remember Vicky. They say that's what she would have wanted.

If you'd like to join Mark's team, join my team or form your own team, you can still do so. The race is Saturday, September 25th at CityPlex towers at 81st and Lewis.

To find out more check out LeAnne's page on NewsOn6.com.

A footnote to the story, Saturday, August 14th would have been Vicky's 42nd birthday.