Stephen’s Year to Remember: From Patient to NYC Marathon Finisher
On December 4, 2024, Stephen Gore asked his fiancée, Christine, to join him in watching one of his favorite moments on television: the 1993 ESPY Awards speech by legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano. This speech is played each year during “V Week,” an annual campaign between ESPN and the V Foundation for Cancer Research that raises critical funds for cancer research advancements. As an NC State alum and lifelong sports fan, the speech has always been meaningful to Stephen and his family. But in 2024, it was more personal than ever as he watched from a hospital bed amid his own battle with cancer.
A Drastic Change of Lifestyle
Just a few months before that trip to the hospital, Stephen’s life looked completely different. He was the picture of health and an avid runner, often placing in the top spots of 5k and 10k races in his local community of Wilmington, N.C.
In fall 2024, his fiancée Christine had been urging him to see a doctor about an increasingly large lump that appeared on his neck. He admits his hesitancy was the fear that something was wrong, but he eventually made the appointment where a scoping procedure and biopsy identified stage 2 throat/neck cancer.
In the months to follow, Stephen was deep in chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but continued running, participating in the annual Wrightsville Beach Turkey Trot. That race was the first time his positivity began to waver as he came face-to-face with the effects of his extreme weight loss and reduced energy, barely making it through the event. He was admitted to the hospital shortly after, where his team encouraged him to take it easy and rebuild strength for basic day-to-day living as he rounded out the final months of treatment.
Never one to back away from a challenge, Stephen had an even bigger plan for himself.
A Wedding and a 26.2 Mile Goal
“I remember laying in the hospital bed, turning the volume up, and we watched the Jimmy V speech. I looked at Christine and said, ‘Next year, I’m going to run the New York City Marathon. I have a jersey back home that represents the V Foundation, and I’m going to run for them,’” recalls Stephen. “She looked at me like I was nuts and told me to start by getting out of the hospital.”
Stephen and Christine had their wedding planned for May 25, 2025, and before any races, that was the first and most important milestone they both wanted to reach.
His side effects continued to be grueling for months, but as his treatment wrapped up, he slowly regained his sense of taste, appetite, and strength. Doctors officially deemed ‘no evidence of disease’ remaining in early 2025.
Stephen and Christine celebrated their wedding in May, and shortly after returning from their honeymoon, he received the next good news he was hoping for: a spot with Team V, the V Foundation’s endurance fundraising program, had just opened up for him to participate in the 2025 New York City Marathon.
A Dream Achieved
With only a few months to train and fundraise, Stephen dove in full-steam ahead to make a major impact for game-changing cancer research. “You have to find a cause dear to your heart,” he said. “You have to be prepared to work for it, but with cancer research, we are hopefully helping the next person in my shoes. I would fundraise for this foundation for the remainder of my days if I can.”
Stephen was proud to fundraise for the V Foundation, one of the premier cancer research charities in the country and an organization where 100% of direct donations benefit all-star scientists accelerating Victory Over Cancer®.
Pre-race, he was excited for the iconic atmosphere that New York City is known for, and the experience was greater than he could have ever imagined. “Running for Team V made me feel twice as good crossing the finish line.”
Stephen completed the race in 4:00:25, using those few extra seconds at mile 16 to kiss his wife and thank her for her unwavering support over the last year. “Each mile is unique, each borough is unique. I heard some good music, had some good vibes, and I’ve never had that many people yell my name. The NYC Marathon is the best sporting event I’ve ever been to, spectator or participant.”
In total, Stephen raised over $8,000 for the V Foundation during his marathon training, and he has no plans to stop anytime soon. He credits his ability to cross the finish line to the power of research in action, an exceptional oncology team, and an incredible network of friends and family who helped get him there. Research provided the opportunity to thrive after his diagnosis.
“I feel so blessed that earlier this year, we were concerned how my life would be moving forward – now look! I cannot wait to continue to raise funds and awareness for this disease that has affected me in ways I never knew it would. Was it terrible? Yes. Has this experience changed my entire life for the better? Absolutely yes.”
As December 2025 welcomes another V Week, Stephen’s favorite words from the iconic speech hold a place in his heart more than ever before: If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.
“I had to rely on this a lot in the last year,” he said. And what a year it has been.
