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Tampa police officer takes down cancer during Miles for Moffitt

Every day, Officer Marcus Elam protects and serves our community. But in 2012, cancer turned out to be the biggest fight of his life.

For 12 years, Miles for Moffitt has brought thousands together in Tampa to fight cancer. It's drawn so much support, that in its 13th year, it has a new date and a new location.

But the mission to end cancer is the same. It's one that inspired a Tampa Police officer and made the brotherhood even stronger.

Every day, Officer Marcus Elam protects and serves our community. But in 2012, cancer turned out to be the biggest fight of his life.

“The first thing I thought was, do I have enough life insurance for my family to take care of them?”

Officer Elam was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a blood cancer. He went through chemo and it went away. But unfortunately, it came back.

He went to Moffitt Cancer Center for a tougher treatment called Stem Cell Transfer.

“Having two kids I have to think, I gotta be there for my kids. I always tell my son and my daughter, fight hard, so I can't wimp out and say I can't go through this. I gotta do it myself and set the example.”

For 21 days, he went through harsh treatments.

“It was hard for me to just get up out the bed, to just go to the bathroom. I had to be assisted just to walk. Sometimes eating was such a chore.”

Every day he was there, his Tampa police family was with him.

“Marcus is a big guy. Seeing someone that big and he's out here, protecting and serving and having to deal with that is heartbreaking,” says Kinnette Scallo, Neighborhood Affairs Liason with Tampa Police.

“They were raising money for me and they were doing these barbecues and sending me messages on social media to stay strong and 'we got you.' And that really touched me. It brought a tear to my eye every time I would see things like that,” Officer Elam said.

He slowly got stronger. And this year, he was told he's cancer-free.

“One of the best things that happened was I was kicked out of Moffitt, so to speak, released so I don't need their services anymore. That was a really good feeling saying you don't need us anymore, you're all healthy.”

Healthy enough to run a third time in Miles for Moffitt. A race that motivated him in the past.

“It's a great thing, too, to see all the survivors and all the people who have gone through it before. When I was sick, I remember seeing people sign up for it and thinking one day I hope to live so that I can do that. So I love doing that now.”

You can join Officer Elam and us here at 10News along with the thousands that will be out for Miles for Moffitt. Join our team here.

It's this Saturday at 8 a.m. in Downtown Tampa. Registration is still open and you can still make donations. 100% of the proceeds go to cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center.

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