12/05/2020
“Love that is ever steadfast” 💕🐢
Like Peas and Carrots.
When Esmeralda (Lali) Castellanos Carr, Theta Omicron-Texas/Rio Grande, found out that her Delta Zeta sister Dr. Camille Killough, Lambda Omicron-Angelo State (TX), had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), she took action and took to her bike.
“I’d been involved with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program as a runner for years,” she says. “So, I decided to join the Bike MS Ride to the River in 2019. I’ve done long distances before, like finishing an Ironman in 2017, so riding 70 miles in one day on a bike wasn’t as daunting a task to me. My ONLY concern was I hadn’t trained properly.” Even knowing that, Lali set out to ride in Camille’s honor, and though she competed in the 2017 Ironman Arizona and in Ironman Texas 70.3 in Camille’s honor, this event was specifically for her. With a small team, Lali has continued to raise funds for MS research.
“Camille is the reason I do this (besides the fact that I’m a glutton for punishment LOL) and her story should be shared,” Lali shared. “We’re like peas and carrots, salt and pepper, bbq and sweet tea!”
Camille’s challenges with MS have not stopped her from finishing her goals and helping others. She struggled for years with relapsing and remitting MS, which six years ago progressed to a form of progressive MS. Progressive MS makes the symptoms from previous exacerbations get worse and for Camille that occurred in the middle of obtaining her PhD in nursing. She suffered many delays in obtaining her PhD, but finally did complete it in 2019. “I walked into that nursing program and then I rolled across the stage when I was hooded to show the world that MS wouldn’t beat me,” says Camille who, even though still in a wheelchair, continues to teach nursing at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi.
Camille reconnected with Lali online and shared her story. “I was telling Lali about how hard it had been to have MS and work on my dissertation, she encouraged me to finish. When she heard about what I was going through she began signing up for races and dedicating them to me.” Lali’s dedication to ride to find a cure for MS has been an inspiration to Camille in her daily life. “I always tell her to run like the wind or ride like the wind. I feel so undeserving of her commitment to help find a cure. Sisters for life, friends forever.”
Lali says, “My 2021 plan is to race all Ironman sanctioned events in Texas in her honor (Texas 70.3, Ironman Texas 140.6, Lubbock 70.3 and Waco 70.3). I made her a promise during Ironman Arizona that I would forever race in her honor so long as God gave me the grace to do so.”
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