Cancer Survivor Runs Half Marathon To Say 'Thank You'

BOSTON (CBS) - For 26-year-old Jason Durkin, his sneakers are rubber soled, size 9 "thank you" cards. "I feel fortunate to be out running and be healthy," he says.

On two feet, under sunny skies, he runs for those who helped when he was knocked him off his feet into dark days. When Jason was 18, he was diagnosed at Dana-Farber with a rare blood disorder called MDS. He needed a bone marrow transplant.

His brother Chris was a match, but the good news was short lived. "Chris's numbers looked a little off," Durkin says. "So they did some tests and found he had the same thing."

They both had to find new donors. They had chemo and radiation. Then, Chris and Jason had to be isolated.

"I was indoors for about 9 months," Durkin says. "I watched a lot of movies and TV. I can quote a lot of movies."

Two years later, out of nowhere, their sister Lauren was also diagnosed with MDS. "For one person to get it is rare, so the fact that three of us got it is pretty insane."

Today all three are doing well. Well enough that Jason is running and fundraising for the Dana-Farber B.A.A Half Marathon team. A 13.1 mile "thank you" to the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

"They make the whole experience better. I cant imagine being treated anywhere else."

And who will be at the finish line?

"I think my brother and sister are going to be holding the finish line for whoever crosses first. It wont be me," he says with a big healthy smile.

WBZ's David Wade is running on the Dana-Farber/Jimmy Fund team as well. It's David's very first half marathon. He says he hopes to "make it to the finish line without passing out."

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