EvEryday Athlete
Because he was the only YSC participant at the Chicago Marathon, Sven would often hang at the Imerman Angels tent, a group that always captured his attention that also supported cancer victims and their families. “They were always so warm, and I later learned that Imerman angels offers one-on-one mentoring to caregivers and support systems around cancer patients,” Sven says. “I felt that was something really special; being a caregiver is a lonely and stressful place.” In 2011, Sven’s wife was cancer-free, and he decided he would give back by running for Imerman Angels. Sven decided his first race for Imerman Angels would be the Illinois Marathon in Champaign-Urbana, because that is where he lives and works. Before the race, he decided to go to the costume store, where he bought a pair of costume wings to represent his team of angels. Unfortunately, at about mile 20, the cardboard wings started to disintegrate, and he ended up carrying them the rest of the way. Sven loved the meaning of the wings so much, that he asked his wife’s cousin to sew him an original pair. Now, these wings, along with the rest of his ensemble, can be seen on Sven’s back at every charity race he participates in with pictures and names of survivors attached to them. “I feel like what I wear tells a story about what I came from and where I’m going,” Sven explains. “It’s not to be showy, I guess it is a little showy, but it reminds me that’s why I’m doing it.” He also wears a pink hat that his wife wore when she lost her hair during chemotherapy, and a chartreuse shirt to represent his mom, who is a lymphoma survivor. “Even if it’s 90-degrees out, me being a little hot isn’t a big deal compared to what these people went through,” he adds.
Stephen “Sven” Johnson Charity: imerman angels When his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, Stephen “Sven” Johnson became her immediate caretaker. While she appreciated his care and attentiveness, she told him to find something to get him out of the house, so he started running. Fifty-four marathons later, Sven has found and built upon his passion. 18
July 2017
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Out of his 54 marathons, 47 of them have been for Imerman Angels. Sven has completed 78 charity races in total for the group, and in May alone, he ran five marathons. Throughout the rest of the summer, he will be doing 10ks and half marathons, and will start his fall marathon season in September.
Sven started with Young Survival Coalition, a charity supporting women with breast cancer, and ran with them for four years. His first marathon was the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in fall 2007, which also happened to be the year it was cancelled halfway through due to heat.
“Sometimes I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t run, it’s very meditative and calmative,” Sven says. “Sometimes I face some survival guilt as a caregiver and because my wife is doing exceptionally well, there’s always that need to feel you’re giving back, so running for Imerman Angels eases my conscious.”
“My first experience was less than ideal, but I still made it through,” Sven says.
By: Holly Petrovich