By Ellen de Graffenreid

Jessica Perry of Hudson, MA, is traveling more than 700 miles to run 10 and she thinks it’s worth it!  The marathoning mom of 3 wanted to do a charity run and saw the 2012 Wells Fargo Tar Heel 10-miler on UNC Lineberger’s Facebook page.

“I signed up for it, because of my dad’s long time career at UNC Lineberger and later, talking to my dad, realized that this is his 25th anniversary working there! It seemed like a great idea to raise money for something that means a lot to both of us,” she said.

Her father, Steve Oglesbee, is director of the Tissue Culture Facility, one of the core laboratory facilities that many scientists at UNC Lineberger use to power their experiments.  He and his colleagues are an important part of the infrastructure that allows cancer researchers to make new discoveries in living cells in the laboratory, which then may be translated into new pathways for cancer treatment.  

In his 25 years at UNC Lineberger he has had to keep up with new technologies in biomedical research, ensure that cancer center researchers have access to a broad range of cells that are needed for experiments, manage the logistics of a busy, growing facility, and assist researchers with technical issues important to quality control in the lab.  

So cancer research is a cause that means something to Jessica, who also works in the medical field as a Clinical Research Specialist for Quintiles.  She also loves being active – a good thing since daughter Kaelyn, age 3 and a half, and 19 month old twins Lexy and Kenzy keep her moving!

“I enjoy running and if I can do something I enjoy and contribute at the same time, it’s great,” says Perry.  

“It was really easy to set up a fundraising page for UNC Lineberger.  I set up my page and emailed it to family and friends.  I plan on reaching out to colleagues soon.  My company has a matching gift program and I will be taking advantage of that option to increase my fundraising total,” she adds.

Perry thinks coming back to Chapel Hill to run is special.  “Even though I’m the only one in my family who didn’t graduate from UNC,” the University of Albany alumni says, “All of us in my family are huge Tar Heel fans so it’s a wonderful excuse to come back home.”  

“And great minds think alike – after I signed up I found out that my mom, Ross Oglesbee, signed up for the Fleet Feet 4-miler and enrolled in the training program!”