Daughters organize Elgin 5K in father's memory

When the family of Bob Geier of Elgin was given the news that he was dying of esophageal cancer, they were shocked.

At 52, Geier was just as active and healthy as ever, but in January 2011, he was told the disease was in its fourth stage and already had spread through his body.

Bob Geier decided to fight his cancer, as he said, with dignity, and shortly after his death in May 2011, his two daughters began to brainstorm ways to give back, like their father would have.

On Saturday, the first Smiles for Bob 5K will be held. Daughter Meghan Geier said the name is a reflection of her father's character and a tribute to his memorable smile.

“He was probably one of the nicest people you'd ever meet,” she said. “He always put others in front of himself. He was just a happy person, always smiling. He really enjoyed life.”

Prior to their father's diagnosis, the Geier family had never heard of esophageal cancer. According to cancer.gov tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are known factors linked to the disease, but Bob maintained a relatively healthy lifestyle. The first sign of an illness came in winter 2011, when the family had all come down with the flu, but Bob didn't recover when the rest did.

“It was kind of just a shock,” said Geier's other daughter, Kayla. “I don't ever remember him being sick my entire life, so it was such a shock that one day he was fine and next day he had esophageal cancer.”

The close-knit family stayed by Bob's side for the five months he was in and out of chemotherapy; Kayla recalled her mother, Jan, staying at the hospital for an entire month during treatment.

The sisters said their father fought cancer heroically and with a positive attitude. Though he never did, Bob had talked of writing a book titled, “Fighting Cancer With Dignity,” which had become his mantra. The Geier sisters said Saturday's 5K is an extension of his mission in life.

“I know it's one thing my dad would really like as his legacy — to help others,” Meghan said.

As Kayla has been an avid runner for five years and had participated in many 5K races before, she began trying to find a local event that benefitted esophageal cancer, but didn't find any. So, she said, developing their own race seemed the appropriate way to honor her father's memory.

So far, between $12,000 and $15,000 has been raised, far surpassing the family's original goal of $5,000. Though 250 runners are signed up for the race, more can register before the 8 a.m. start. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

The sisters think upward to 350 participants could be running the route beginning and ending at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin. This, too, surpassed the original goal of 100 athletes.

“I'm just amazed at the support we've received,” Meghan said. “From strangers to friends and friends we haven't heard from for a while, it's been so great.”

Even more than the numbers, the sisters said a huge surprise has been outreach from other families who had lost loved ones to esophageal cancer. Kayla said many families had similar experiences of shock, since esophageal cancer is by nature difficult to detect in its early stages.

At the conclusion of Saturday's race, Smiles for Bob will honor five other lives lost to the disease in addition to memorializing Bob Geier. The race will conclude with a party, Meghan said, the way Bob would have wanted it to.

“This race is our way of sharing his story and celebrating the amazing person, father, friend and husband he was,” she said. “The 5k is a fun way to celebrate. he would have loved having a big party.”

The Smiles for Bob committee is made up of Meghan and Kayla, their mother and brother Lucas, and close family and friends.

Since the group is committed to education about esophageal cancer, along the racecourse the committee and race volunteers will set up signs with facts about the disease and the current research findings.

Sponsors for the race come from local businesses and beyond, including Crystal Geyser water company, where Bob was a regional manager. All proceeds from sponsorship and additional fundraising will go to the American Cancer Society with a specific intent for esophageal cancer research.

“We just want to bring awareness to it,” Meghan said. “We want anyone in the future who is affected by the disease to be given the fair chance to fight.”