OUR STORY
Team CMMD is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity team of runners and non-runners, led and founded by Christine Meyer, MD, on January 1, 2013. We come from all walks of life and several different states, but we have a common mission: fighting cancer. Each of us has desire to do what we can to make a difference in our local community of Chester County, PA and beyond, and in the lives of those affected by cancer.
While we began as a running team, we have blossomed into something much more. We are physically active with runners, walkers, cyclists, swimmers and more; but we also have many members who volunteer, sponsor, and support our cause in ways other than miles. We welcome all talents and abilities to join our cause, because it truly takes a village to fight cancer and its effects on families.
“We come from all walks of life, but we have a common mission: fighting cancer.”
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
We all have that one defining moment when we know that we want to make a difference and can’t just sit in silence any longer. Team CMMD was formed January 1, 2013 by Christine Meyer, MD, a local physician. On the first day of the year, Christine was in an emotional downward spiral after the holidays. The gifts had been unwrapped, the decor was sagging, and her spirits were hitting an all-time low. Three of her dearest patients were battling for their lives after each receiving a devastating cancer diagnosis. Christine was questioning everything, including her worth as a doctor, unable to help her patients. She woke up feeling fat, old, and tired. Weighing most heavily on her mind was her aunt and medical mentor, who herself was nearing the end of a grueling chemo treatment plan for stage III B colon cancer.
She needed a goal — something to work toward and look forward to. So Christine decided to train for and run Philadelphia’s famous Blue Cross Broad Street Run. The last thing she wanted to do was get on that treadmill, or worse, brave the frigid temperatures to run outside. But in past years, getting ready for this 10-miler had gotten her through the dreary winter months and kept her exercising. She knew that a sure way to guarantee a spot to run Broad Street was to form a charity team. The rest is history. Within hours Team CMMD was born. Within days, our team had grown to 46 members. Within weeks, we had exceeded our original goal of $2,000. And after four months of training and fundraising through the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation® program, Team CMMD had raised over $65,000. And we’ve never looked back!
Christine and her aunt, Venis Fanous, MD.
The original Broad Street Run team in 2013.
OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE
The Team CMMD Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity of runners, cyclists and supporters working together for those living with cancer in our community and beyond. Based in Chester County, PA the Team CMMD Foundation provides financial assistance and scholarships to families dealing with cancer. We also host dedication runs honoring patients and provide moral support through community outreach projects. The Team CMMD Foundation also raises funds for the American Cancer Society research through the Broad Street Run each year.
OUR STORY IS NOW A BOOK!
In 2016, Dr. Christine Meyer published the story of the team in a memoir about its humble beginnings and the community movement it sparked. Booklist Reviews wrote “Meyer’s animated account of her successful efforts exemplifies how one woman imbued with infectious zeal can make a difference.” The book won a 2016 Living Now Book Awards Gold Medal for Best Inspirational Memoir from a Female Author.