Santa Maria residents are coming together to support beloved fitness trainer Mary Bigelow, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year. The community‑driven “Movement for Mary” 5K, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, will start and finish at Waller Park, just outside the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
Bigelow’s impact on the Central Coast
For more than two decades, Bigelow has taught spin classes, strength training, CrossFit, personal training, and nutrition coaching at the local YMCA. Her magnetic personality and uplifting messages – “show up for yourself” and “who are you showing up for?” – have inspired countless participants.
“Mary was just automatically magnetic,” said spin‑class attendee Sawyer Coffey. “She shines so bright and always gives us those little inspirational moments that keep us going.”
Family, faith, and the fight
Bigelow is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to baby Nora. After an emergency ER visit in April uncovered a pancreatic tumor, doctors confirmed the cancer was caught early and remains operable. She promptly began chemotherapy under the care of a Stanford specialist and is preparing for surgery.
“When she got the news, it shook all of us to be more present,” said fellow rider Tara Van Fleet. “She always says, ‘You get to do this, you don’t have to,’ and now we’re living that truth together.”
Movement for Mary 5K details
Organizers, led by Christina Landeros, formed a planning board to turn gratitude into action. “Supporting and loving Mary is the easiest part of my day,” Landeros said. The event will feature a 5K walk/run, food vendors, bounce houses, and a raffle. All proceeds will help cover Bigelow’s medical expenses, travel to Stanford, surgery, recovery, and ongoing chemotherapy.
Registration is open through the day of the race, and raffle donations are accepted up until a few days before the event. Participants can sign up or learn how to donate via the Movement for Mary Instagram page.
Community response
Local residents say Mary’s name alone draws immediate support. “I’m in, I’m in, I’m in,” Landeros noted, describing the enthusiastic turnout. Lauren Black, another class attendee, added, “She’s used to pouring out love to others, so seeing everyone pour love back to her feels foreign but deserved.”
The 5K not only raises funds but also reinforces the tight‑knit spirit of Santa Maria’s fitness community, reminding neighbors that caring for one another is a shared responsibility.
How to get involved
Anyone interested in running, walking, or simply supporting Mary can register online. Donations, whether large or small, are welcomed and will directly alleviate the financial burden of her treatment.
For more information, visit the Movement for Mary Instagram page or contact the organizers through the event’s official website.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
