Real Life Spotlight - Craig Burns

                                                           Craig Burns

In February of 2004, after a lymph node and bone marrow biopsy, I received a diagnosis of a stage four cancer. The diagnoses reported I had indolent, low grade, B cell Lymphoma with a ten percent aggregate in my marrow. This means that there is cancer in multiple parts of my body, above and below the diaphragm as well as in the bone marrow. At that time, it also meant that it is not curable, though treatable.

At the same season of life, I had moved from a 10K level to a marathon level of running, as a means to raise awareness and mission funds for Project Rescue. Under my health care teams’ watchful eye, I progressed to the 50-mile level, completing the three ultras in 2007 called, the Lynchburg Ultra Series. Two 50K’s and a 50 Miler named, the 50 Mile Mountain Masochist that ran from the James River Visitor Center to Montebello, Va. along the forest trails near the Blue Ridge Parkway. I journaled all the experiences in my first book, “Constant Forward Motion: The Running of the Lymphoma Ultra Series”.

In 2008, after more tests, it was determined the cancer had spread and to my disappointment I began R-Chop Chemotherapy in 2009. The 18 weeks of chemotherapy, weakened my bones to such a degree that I lost two inches of height, and tests revealed all my bones were deteriorating. I had multiple compression fractures in my vertebra and entered a season of a level 10 of 10 pain that lasted two years. I could not run, and only walk.

In 2011, I felt the Lord say to me, to “follow me back into ultra marathons”. So, I did, and finished three of the four ultra’s that year. Those series of stories are captured in my second book, “What Next?! One Powerful Question”.

I continue to run ultra’s as I continue the battle with cancer. A 2014 diagnosis of Cutaneous Lymphoma meant, more chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which concluded in the fall of 2014. By God’s grace, I was able to run a trail marathon, two 50K’s and a 40 miler in 2014.

Completed a Master’s program in 2013 with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

I serve as pastor of Vienna Assembly of God, in Vienna, Va. Married to Brenda L. Burns since 1978, with three children, and four grand children.