Created in loving memory of my brother and his wife:
Paul 7/29/11 - Ruth 12/21/12
Cost $15 per medal
+ $3 shipping to anywhere in the USA = $18 total
Send $18 to PayPal via: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/annadwinger
Please put your mailing address in the note section!
"Tourmaline Pink"
Available NOW!
These are in stock, and
ready to ship!!
"I support melanoma cancer research!"
Meet the Melanoma Angels, Warriors, and Supporters
The medals are designed after their birthstone colors.
Anna Dwinger
Melanoma Research Supporter
Ruby Red Medal 2014
My oldest brother Paul passed away from stage 4 terminal metastatic melanoma in July 2011.
In December 2012, while I was training for my 3rd half marathon, Paul's wife Ruth also passed away from melanoma, it was in her brain. At this point I had been terrified to even attempt to run a full marathon. But after Ruth died I decided to go for it, and to use my first full marathon as a way to raise money for melanoma research.
While I was training for my first full I ran 13.1 miles on my birthday, July 13, 2013. It was the first time I had run that distance outside of a race!
My running friends call me the Annagizer and they suggested that I run every year on my birthday and continue to raise money for melanoma research. They dubbed the event the "Annual Annagizer Half Marathon." To make the run more appealing to more people I chose a more general name for the virtual aspect, and that is how the "Virtual Birthday Run" was born in 2014.
Paul Humphrey and Ruth Riffe
Melanoma Angels
Topaz Orange Medal 2015
Paul was born November 5, 1971. He passed away from Melanoma July 29, 2011.
He married Ruth, after about 3 years of dating, one month before he died. Ruth found out she had melanoma in 2012 and died within a month from her diagnosis. It was in her brain. She passed away on December 21, 2012. I do not know her birthdate.
Anna, the creator of the Virtual Birthday Run, runs in July for her birthday to raise money in memory of Paul and Ruth. Paul was her oldest brother, of two. Anna's brithday is july 13, 1975
Topaz is the November birthstone, and dedicated in Paul's memory.
Aquamarine Blue Medal 2016
Meet Kristi. She was born on March 8, 1973. The Aquamarine medal was designed in her honor. She has been a Melanoma survivor since November 25, 2011. She spends almost every waking moment doing some form of melanoma awareness, advocacy or education.
She has turned her car into a rolling billboard, she shares other melanoma warrior and angel stories on her personal Facebook page, she works tirelessly at her day time job of being a hair stylist, even using it to help people find melanomas on their scalp. She is the mom to two amazing and super adorable boys. But to us in the melanoma community she is so much more. She is an angel. A cheerleader, a fierce protector. She is our energy, our light and a source of comfort and peace.
Without her the melanoma community would not be the same!!
Melanoma Research Supporter
Tourmaline Pink Medal 2017
Meet Katie! Her birthday is on October 21, 2007.
She is my daughter. I trained her to run her first 5k in 2014. It was the iCureMelanoma 5k in Fullerton, CA.
Her Uncle Paul and Aunt Ruth passed away, just as she was starting to get to know them. She was only 3 years old when Paul passed, and she was 4 when Ruth passed. But she remembers both of them fondly. They were both great with kids, and so fun to be around!
As I was trying to decide what color to make the 2017 medal, Katie asked if I could make one for her birthstone. I agreed to do that for her. Tourmaline is one of the stones for October, and it happens to also be Katie's favorite color... PINK!
Paul and Ruth would be so proud of their niece. And I am sure are are beaming with pride from Heaven.