Stephanie Bunt is a cancer researcher, organizer and fundraiser of Miles for Miles. She is working as a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Eppley Cancer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She works on pancreatic cancer therapies.

Blunt grew up overseas, as a child of diplomats. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology in 1999 in Vanderbilt University. After a two-year research fellowship at the NIH, she attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she earned her Ph.D. in Immunology by working on breast cancer in 2007. Now she is living with her husband, Christopher and son, Brayden.

Stephanie has created a fundraiser called 'Miles for Miles' to raise money for a friend with the fatal disease, progeria. Miles is a son of Stephanie's dear friend, Leah, whom she met at the International School of Islamabad, Pakistan. Miles has been diagnosed with Progeria, a fatal genetic disease characterized by accelerated aging.

Miles is a charming, wonderful and smart little boy who came in this world in 2006. Although, in most ways, Miles is as normal as other boys, he is different in one very big way that he has been diagnosed with Progeria. He was born healthy, but the concerns arose when it was found that he has a poor weight gain as well as terrible acid reflux at the age of 4 months. A battery of tests, two false negative progeria tests, hospital stays, and after 2 years, Miles was finally diagnosed with progeria.

Stephanie states that when Miles was diagnosed with progeria at the age of 2.5, her view about parenting was changed forever. She knew that she had something to help her dear friend. Stephanie says, “Parenting provides both the most incredible amount of perspective and the least, often at the same time.” According to her, we recognize what is truly important in life and still ridiculously worry about simple things. Because, with this perspective comes the awareness of all which you have to lose.

She feels more concern for Miles as a child. She says, “I thought about this dichotomy as I held my 2 year-old the other night, worried over his high fever and labored breathing. I am fortunate; short of the occasional virus, my child is healthy and I know that he will get better. My good friend Leah, however, does not have that luxury.”

Stephanie is a member of 'Miles for Miles', a marathon team of 7 people. In the hope of increasing awareness for progeria as well as $10,000 for the PRF's (Progeria Research Foundation) clinical trial and to support Miles' continuing involvement in the clinical trial, this team is working for the Pittsburgh Marathon. While the runners' dedication in fundraising and training has been incredible, the support from donors from all over the US for Miles has been heart-warming.

About the inspiration she got from Miles' case, Stephanie says, “My inspiration, which started with Miles, fueled by my love for my child, is actually sustained by Leah and the acknowledge that I am inspiring her to take steps to deal with this in a positive and proactive way and that perspective is enough for me.”

http://trulyamazingwomen.com/the-women/stephanie-bunt-cancer-researcher-organizer-miles-for-miles