November 02, 2018 (New York, NY) – On Oct. 31, Olympic gold medalist Kikkan Randall was in New York City to accept the AKTIV Against Cancer Inspiration Award for 2018. The luncheon and ceremony was held at the New York City Athletic Club during the TCS New York City Marathon Week.

Earlier this year, following her retirement after winning a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, Randall announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing treatment. She had already worked with AKTIV Against Cancer in the past, and became even more involved at that point.

AKTIV is an organization that works to ensure physical activity will become an integral part of cancer treatment. Randall first encountered the charitable organization Aktiv Against Cancer at a World Cup race in Norway. Over the years, she’s always made a point of teaming up with the group, which encourages cancer patients to stay active in addition to funding research.

Her outward commitment to staying active while undergoing cancer treatment also helped her on a personal level. “When I am out there running, biking, skiing I can feel like my normal self and like cancer isn’t even part of my life,” she says. “It’s only when I come in and take my helmet off and look in the mirror and say oh shoot I don’t have any hair, and go whoa.”

AKTIV Against Cancer was founded by the late nine-time NYC Marathon champion and Norwegian running star Grete Waitz and co-founder Helle Aanesen in Norway in 2007. Dr. Jordan Metzl was also honoured at the event alongside Randall.

Randall has also recently launched a line of products under the name “It’s Going to be OK”  in support of AKTIV. Socks made by Darn Tough Vermont and pink headbands by LL Bean, the same one worn by Randall when she and Jessie Diggins won the first-ever Olympic gold medals for Team USA in PyeongChang, are available at her website here.