Naleta Hurt is a hometown girl from nearby Cornersville and our Customer Service / Purchasing Manager at Col. Littleton, and she’s gearing up for a special race.
Outside of work, while her most favorite activity is to spend precious time with her granddaughter, Ella Danielle, it is these spring months that have extra special meaning to her.
Naleta is training once again to run in the 2014 Country Music Marathon. This will be her 7th race, and she’s running in memory of her daughter, Danielle Lee Agent (Dana), who was only 22 when she lost her battle with cancer.
Dana was an athlete and in college on a basketball scholarship when the illness struck. She was originally diagnosed with a brain tumor, and then Leukemia set in, and she was given just 4-6 weeks to live. Dana fought for four years. Her memory and spirit are always alive and continue to motivate her mother:
“Dana is always with me through all the fundraising, the many miles of training and the 13.1 miles on the day of the marathon. I have her picture attached to my jersey each year along with names on ribbons in memory of others who have succumbed to cancer or are cancer survivors. Last year, I ran with 37 ribbons for all the people affected by cancer. I want people to see why I do this.”
Naleta trains with and raises funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training, whose motto is, “Together, We Train to BEAT Cancer.” Teamwork is what has gotten her through the struggles and to the finish line. She began training with a mentor who also became a lifelong friend. On Saturdays, she runs with a church group that helps her build up to the big run. “Family and my church family are important to me,” says Hurt.
Naleta has raised over $22,000 in the seven years and continues to run for her daughter and for everyone else who has dealt with cancer. “It’s important to me to help others. Had Dana been diagnosed today she would still be here; research has come a long way. I raise funds because I want to find a cure. The research helps all cancers. I don’t want someone else to lose a daughter, son, mother, father or loved one, because of something that I did not try to do. This is the reason I do it.”
At our recent company meeting and “pig out,” Col. Littleton presented Naleta with a special No. 9 Leather Journal for her hard work and to document her journeys.
