Lillie Doss has been a consummate caregiver for a great deal of her life. Her husband had cancer and struggled for years. Lillie was there every painful step of the way. She took care of her father, her mother and other family members who all had slow sad declines preceding their passing.
Then one day, she woke up with no one to care for. She felt lost. She struggled to find a purpose. She didn't know where to turn. She says she didn't even want to go on with life. A battle with breast cancer left her feeling hopeless.
She's not sure why, but she started running … and running … and running! Before she knew it, her outlook had completely changed. Physically, she'd never felt better. She lost weight, started traveling and began to compete.
Here's the amazing part -- she's closing in on 80 years old. She's won more than 500 medals and trophies. She runs marathons, but they weren't enough. So she runs 50 k races (31 miles) as well.
Listen to this and you'll believe that in life, it really is never too late!
Want to meet more amazing people like Lillie? Check out our Cancer Survivors channel.
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Posted 3:42pm December 22nd, 2008I met Lillie Doss in October 2003 at the Huntsman Senior World Games in St. George, Utah. She is an inspiration. We have been come close friends over the last five years. She is my mother. She has filled a void in my life that was empty since my mother died in 1968. She spent Mothers' Day with me in CA in 2005 and in 2006 she was my Mother of the Bride when I got married in 8/06 in Missouri. We both compete in the Senior Games and I recently started walking 1/2 marathons because of Lillie. Lillie is blind in one eye and slowing loosing sight in the other eye but when she runs she feels better.
She has a sweet gentle spirit and a Christian. I love her so much. The world is a better place because of Lillie Doss. I know my life is better because she is a part of it. She lives in Austin, TX and I live in St. Charles, MO. We talk often and visit when we can. Her son, Tim, keeps us in touch via e-mail.
Lillie and I share a quote from one of the senior games, " You don't stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing"
Bonnie