Mary Major says she's going to do it this time.
Last year, she had planned to participate in the Maryland Half Marathon and 5K to benefit the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. Instead, she was stuck in the hospital, being treated for cancer.
Major, 47, a Halethorpe resident, was there in spirit. She was even connected to her group of supporters, dubbed Team Major, via FaceTime on her cellphone. And she got her own shirt and medal.
A year later, she's in remission and she's ready to take part in the race set for May 9 in Maple Lawn in Howard County. "I'm going to try to do it," she said last week.
In addition to walking the 5K, Major will serve as the starter at the half marathon, blowing the air horn to get the race underway. "It's an honor," she said.
Team Major, a group of family and friends, will turn out again, too. The team includes Major's sister, Donna Wolfe, of Pasadena, friends and family and one of Wolfe's customers at the bar where she works once a week. Last year, Team Major only had four members. This year, it's more like a dozen.
"We are all going to go out there and support Mary because she's going to walk with us," Wolf said.
The team has returned and grown because proceeds of the race go directly to the Greenebaum Cancer Center, said Wolfe.
She praised the care her sister has received at the Greenebaum Cancer Center. "If it wasn't for them, she wouldn't be here," Wolfe said.
Wolfe has twice donated stem cells for her sister's treatment, including one last May. "I was a perfect match," she said.
The race has raised $2 million, according to Jon Sevel, race co-founder and cochairman. "What makes the Maryland Half Marathon unique is that 100 percent of the net proceeds benefit this nationally recognized cancer center, " he said.
Major said she has been sick for the past five years. After successfully battling breast cancer, she's back in treatment fighting leukemia. Right now, she's celebrating. She's in remission.
She said she is grateful for the care she's received at Greenebaum, which she calls "my home away from home." Major spends up to three days a week there.
Major said Michael, her husband of 28 years, has been her principal support through all of it. "Without him, I wouldn't be here," she said.
Major, the mother of two grown sons, has put her career in customer service and sales on hold for now.
"I still try to keep as active as I can because I don't want to give in," she said.