From Grand Canyon Dreams to Davis Beer Dashes: How One Woman's Cancer Loss Became a Movement

There’s something beautifully absurd about running 26.2 meters instead of 26.2 miles—especially when the finish line is a cold beer and the whole thing happens in a brewery parking lot. But that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday night in Davis, when Cancer Champions hosted their Beer Dash, a tongue-in-cheek fundraiser that somehow managed to be both playful and deeply purposeful.

Jennifer Miramontes, the nonprofit’s founder, didn’t set out to build a cancer support organization. Her journey started with loss—her father’s death to cancer, followed by her mother’s diagnosis in 2001. As a fitness trainer, Miramontes did what she knew how to do: she showed up. But when her mother’s doctors delivered the grim three-month prognosis, she shifted from generic support to something more specific. Her mother had a bucket list item: hiking in and out of the Grand Canyon. So Miramontes trained her for it.

Her mother didn’t just hike the canyon. She lived three years past her diagnosis. That became the lightbulb moment—the realization that fitness, nutrition, mindset, and community could be more than helpful. They could be transformative. Cancer Champions was born from that insight.

What makes the organization different is their refusal to impose a one-size-fits-all approach. Miramontes explained it simply: they meet people where they are. Chair exercises for someone deconditioned and dizzy. Customized nutrition and fitness regimens tailored to each patient’s specific needs and capacity. This isn’t generic wellness. It’s medicine wrapped in compassion.

The Beer Dash on Wednesday was promotion for the organization’s Moonlight Run, taking place July 18 at 1260 Lake Blvd in Davis, starting from the Super Owl Brewing parking lot. Multiple distance options—from 2K to 10 miles—make it accessible, and registration stays open until race time. The funds support Cancer Champions’specialized care programs.

What’s particularly striking is the scope. While based in Yolo County, Cancer Champions has worked with patients from Uganda, France, Argentina, and Mexico. According to board member Wendy Miller, that reach reflects something universal: we all know someone touched by cancer. In a polarized moment, that common humanity is powerful. It’s why people across the nation serve on the board, strategize together, and show up on a Wednesday night to run 26.2 meters for a cause that matters.