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Cory recently helped organize the "Never Say No" 5K at Long Dock Park in Beacon, raising $2,500 for the Poughquag-based Ryan McElory Children's Cancer Foundation.
Cory, a rising junior at Beacon High School, was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma when he was 18 months old after his parents noticed he was walking funny.
Upon diagnosis, Cory was rushed to Albany Medical Center, and he battled cancer until he was four, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation treatments and receiving bone marrow. While he doesn't remember much about his battle, he still has the scars.
"It was tough for my family," Cory said. "I have an older sibling and a twin and it was a bunch of back and forth."
Cory was expecting 70 people to register and said when online registration closed, he already had 100 people. Overall, the race had 132 attendees.
"Helping people battling cancer is one of my top priorities," Cory said. "I'm always looking for ways to help people."
Cory started running track after getting injured while playing soccer. He now runs cross country for Beacon High School. He is already in his third week in practice for the 2017 season.
"The team is so close," Cory said. "They are a great group of people. We all get along with each other.
Anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis should look for the light at the end of the funnel, Cory said.
"The treatment and medicine just keep getting better," Cory said. "Patients and families have more hope than what I had."
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