#BraveLikeSteve
Name: Steve Moe
Diagnosis: Rare form of Leukemia
Years of Survivorship: 17 years
Location: Fort Ripley, MN
Follow Steve on Instagram.
Published on June 13th, 2025
Running has a melody to it, a rhythmic beat.
Your feet landing on the ground, grounding you. Soaking up the energy the earth has to give you with each step.
It’s inspirational, transformational, and magical all at the same time.
It energizes your body and soul.
Running is a path forward and it beckons you forward.
I run to feel free and a sense of feeling strong.
It leaves me with clarity at the end of a run.
The time spent running clears your mind and your body of toxins of this world.
It is medicine to the soul.
It’s a joy that lasts.
It’s your mind telling your body, Yes, you can do a little more, you can go a little farther.
It’s fluid meditation flowing throughout body and soul.
Running has become a passion welling up from deep within me.
It has rekindled a fire that I thought was extinguished.
Running is my fountain of youth.
-Steve Moe
Cancer has become a part of Steve’s life, but it’s not his whole life. Through running and community, he chooses what defines him. After a rare leukemia diagnosis, he found running again by signing up for races with his kids. Now, Steve Moe is one of 43 members on Team Brave Like Gabe running during Grandma’s Marathon Weekend on June 21, 2025. Steve is racing the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and fundraising for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation with his two daughters to raise money for rare cancer research and in honor of Gabe Grunewald.
How has running or staying physically active affected your journey?
“I had a heart attack when I was 42. That is when they found the cancer. A rare form of leukemia. It can’t be cured, just managed. I was in shock more than anything else. I started on chemotherapy right away. For the most part, it was livable.
It has been a rough couple of years, trying to maintain some form of normalcy. About five years ago the wheels went off the track. I lost 80 pounds in six months. At Mayo, they told me it’s a symptom of the cancer and that it’s likely progressing. Then, as quickly as it started, the weight loss stopped. Almost 4 years ago, I had a very difficult divorce that took its toll on me. I tried to continue my life as normal as I could for my four children.
In February 2023 I started walking to sort out things in my mind because between the cancer and divorce, it was a lot to deal with. Walking helped clear my mind and I continued to walk further and further distances. I had the idea to do a 5K with my oldest daughter who has done running races and a triathlon. At this point, I hadn’t done any running since high school. My three daughters agreed to doing it with me.
It was a like a lost love that I found again. I ended up doing five 5Ks in 2023. Then in the summer of 2024, I did ten 5Ks, three 10Ks, two 5miles, and one 1 mile. I completed over 400 miles during the summer alone. My two daughters and I were randomly selected for the 2024 Twin Cities Medtronic 10 Mile and I was so excited to do it with them as a bonding experience. My children mean everything to me and I’m very grateful we could do it together.
I started really enjoying running. It has helped my mind so much. When I was out running, I was free and I didn’t hurt. When I look back, I see how running has been a blessing in helping me deal with the stresses of life. I think it’s made me much more mentally and physically stronger to deal with cancer.”
“Throughout all the ugliness of the last few years, the sun is starting to come out again.”
What advice do you have for people on staying fit throughout their recovery?
“Do it, just do it! Staying active helps me so much. I would say it’s one of the best things I’ve done for my health in many, many years. I’ve built a base of running and now it feels natural to go out and run. There are moments that even though I can walk somewhere, I decide to run because it’s like medicine for me. Running is something I can control and manage, when there are pains from life that I cannot.”
What are some of your proudest accomplishments as a cancer survivor?
“Just looking back and seeing how far I’ve come with running in the last three years. One of my proudest accomplishments is all the miles that I have run with my children. We’ve made great memories that will last their lifetime.”
How has Gabe's story impacted you or changed the way you view life as a cancer survivor?
“When I first heard her story a few years back, I thought, what an inspiration, to just live life no matter how tough it can get. On the days that are hard, I think of Gabe and the mountain of courage she had. I want to be brave like her. I am honored that I am able to help further her goal of raising awareness about rare cancer research.
The more I delve into her story, the more I realize so many little relatable things. Like one of her quotes about how time is so short, but when you run, time seems to lengthen. I can relate to that part. This whole journey raising money for the Foundation with the Brave Like Gabe charity team has been just wonderful for me. It's been a catalyst to make me go forward with a purpose.”
“Yes the cancer is always in the back of my mind, but I try to leave it there as much as possible. I wanna make good memories with my children. Memories that they can look back on and say remember when. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of that because someday I will be gone. I hope that I have shown them to be strong in the face of struggles.”
What does it mean to be #BraveLikeSTEVE?
“It means being present and mindful. Don’t let cancer beat you down. Many days are tough, but if we stand up and look for the sunshine, the days will be easier. Each day, do the best that you can because tomorrow is not promised.”
WHAt Are you looking forward to in the near future?
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to run in Grandma’s Half Marathon with my daughters and make memories. Sometimes it takes a crisis to realize what we truly have and how important time is.”
