Note: Nine months became a significant measure in Gil’s life; she carried Anna for nine months, Anna’s illness was nine months from diagnosis to her passing, and Gil carried out the National Park Run in nine months time.
Gil says, “This challenge didn’t heal me, but the hope that we might use our grief to help save another life is what kept me going. Anna was so strong and fearless and I think we all need to be warriors like her.”
In her own words: My name is Gilberta Schaenzle, but everyone calls me Gil. I grew up on a large cattle and sheep ranch in South Dakota. Aside from my first 17 years, most of my life has been spent in Colorado. It was in Boulder, CO where I met my wonderful husband, Fred. We just had our 26th anniversary. We live in a little mountain town in Colorado called Evergreen.