LEXINGTON — The Lexington Medical Society fielded its first-ever marathon relay team at the 2026 Ironcology Survive the Night event, held overnight July 18–19 at Baptist Health Hamburg. The team gathered the night before for a relaxed carb-fueled dinner before taking on the 26.2 mile challenge, divided into 20 out-and-back laps.
The LMS team included UK GME residents Lauren Rose, MD, and Margaret Stull, MD, her father Howard Stull, medical student Mary Baxter, Grace Ruiz, Lauren Nieman, Chase Bockman, Beth Hickey, and me. Our participation reflected LMS’s commitment to wellness, camaraderie, and community service.
The event was organized by Ironcology’s enthusiastic staff and volunteers and energized by DJ-led music. Teams ranged from elementary-school children to seasoned adult athletes, all united by a shared purpose: helping Kentucky cancer patients afford the travel costs required to reach Lexington hospitals for treatment.
Ten current or former cancer patients participated, underscoring the heart of Ironcology’s mission. I was one of those ten, having completed my last immunotherapy infusion last month. I was so happy to race again. When I crossed the finish line with my teammates, my thoughts were to the doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and family members who enabled me to be there.
Founded in 2014 by Jonathan Feddock, MD, a radiation oncologist at Baptist Health Lexington, Ironcology has grown from a single fundraiser into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has raised nearly $4 million to support cancer patients. Feddock, who received the 2026 Jack Trevey Award for Community Service, often describes Survive the Night as a place where elite athletes, survivors, and families share the same course, creating a community defined by compassion and strength.
LMS plans to field a team in 2027. To participate, support, or donate to Ironcology, go to ironcology.org/donate or contact me at cmhickey@lexingtondoctors.org.