• Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
Clear

Marquette
Clear 46°

Clear

Escanaba
Clear 52°

Partly Cloudy

Houghton
Partly Cloudy 74°

Clear

Iron Mountain
Clear 54°

Watch
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result

“I’m just trying to run faster than cancer”: Survivor completes half marathons in all 50 states

by Lily Simmons
August 8, 2023 - Updated on August 11, 2023
A A
Holly Hillberg runs through Ludington Park

Holly Hillberg runs through Ludington Park

ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Holly Hillberg grew up in Escanaba. However, it wasn’t until she moved to the Finger Lakes region of New York decades later that she discovered her passion for running.

“I started running when I was 50, which was kind of shocking because I hated running,” Hillberg recalled.

Then, she discovered something else she was passionate about.

“Soon after that, I got this card from Gilda’s Club, which is a cancer support organization,” said Hillberg. “They were training to run a half-marathon in Rochester, New York, and I thought, ‘That’s really great because I could be running and now have a cause.'”

One month later, Hillberg was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

“No one expected me to have cancer,” she said. “I was a runner, I ate really healthy, all that, but I had an uncommon, aggressive, commonly-recurring form of cancer—like none of the things you want to hear.”

Hillberg says it was a frightening diagnosis, but she kept running.

“The day I had my hysterectomy I ran, I ran through chemo and radiation. The first week in September that year, I actually had chemo on Tuesday, radiation on Thursday, and I ran my first half-marathon ever on Sunday.”

Later that year, Hillberg completed a marathon.

“Really skinny, really bald, and collecting fans all over the place when they heard my story,” Hillberg said with a smile. “It was quite an accomplishment.”

Since then, she has never stopped running. Hillberg even embarked on a mission to run a half marathon in every state.

“In March, I just finished my 50th state, finishing a half-marathon in Hawaii,” she said.

To date, Hillberg has completed 91 half marathons and five full marathons. She still returns to Escanaba every year for a visit and a run in her hometown.

‘Whenever I’m here, I always make sure I run around Ludington Park,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite places to run.”

Since her hysterectomy ten years ago, Hillberg has had no issues caused by cancer and is in remission. She says she is inspired by the survivors who came before her, and she hopes to be an inspiration to those who will come after her.

“I try to help people that get diagnosed and try to counsel people how to try to get through it,” she said. “Even when you think you’re not going to get there, you can do it. There is life after cancer.”

Get WZMQ 19 anytime, anywhere

Download the app

AppleAndroid

Watch on TV

RokuFire TVZeam

Connect on social media

FacebookTwitterInstagram

More

News

Secretary of State Benson Addresses Lawmakers on Campaign Finance Website Delays

June 24, 2025
News

City of Marquette Art week celebrates 10th and final year

June 23, 2025 - Updated on June 24, 2025
News

Michigan Leaders React to U.S. Airstrikes on Iran Facilities

June 23, 2025
News

Operation Safe Neighborhoods Removes Nearly 850 Illegal Guns, Whitmer Says

June 23, 2025
News

Northwoods Motor Mayhem begins at U.P. State Fairgrounds

June 20, 2025 - Updated on June 23, 2025
Image of local band PickStop courtesy of the Escanaba DDA
News

Global Make Music Day comes to Escanaba June 21

June 20, 2025 - Updated on June 23, 2025
Next Post

Life in the 906: The best place for mountain bikers

Houghton man sentenced in death of L'Anse man late last summer

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Events
  • Programming
  • Station
WZMQ CBS | 19 News

© 2025 WZMQ, LLC | FCC Public File | EEO Report

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our privacy policy.
Go to mobile version