For the past 20 years, Ron Ganger and members of his family known as the “Ganger Gang” have been competing in Steve’ Run.

Ron and his wife Pat, along with about 20 family members have competed in the annual road and trail race, which is celebrating its 42nd year July 30.

Steve’s Run, which is named for the late Steven Briegel, son of former Southwestern Michigan College President David Briegel.

Steven Briegel died at the age of 22 from cancer. Steve’s Run raises money to fund cancer research.

That is a cause that is near and dear to the Ganger’s heart as both Ron and Pat are cancer survivors.

In fact, Ron has had lung cancer twice in the last 10 months, but is currently cancer free.

Ron and Pat have five daughters, all of whom participated in sports, including Noreen, who was the first female all-sports winner at Dowagiac Union High School in 1975.

They have 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, all of who are in sports.

You have little trouble figuring out who is a member of the “Ganger Gang” as they sport yellow shirts with the game in red.

Four generations of Gangers have competed in Steve’s Run over the years and 22 total members.

So why has Steve’s Run become such an important of the Ganger’s lives?

Ron and Pat could not exactly remember how they got involved in the race, but they are pretty sure race founder Ron Gunn was instrumental.

“I seems to me like you talked to Ron and that’s how we got started,” Pat said.

And despite the fact that the family has spread out over the years, they seem to make it back to Dowagiac from various locations such as South Carolina, Granger, Indiana and Detroit.

“If it was up to her (Pat) I wouldn’t,” Ron said about why he keeps coming back. “I enjoy it and I have one granddaughter who walks with me every year. She just called me last week and asked if I was going to do it again. I told her yes, so she said she would register.”

“My concern is the heat and humidity,” Pat said. “If it is not too bad that day then it is fine. A couple of times it has been in the 90s and high humidity. That is when I worry.”

Ron said he has never contemplated skipping the race until this past March after having radiation treatment for lung cancer.

“I just had no energy,” he said. “All I wanted to do is get in a chair a sleep. I had to force myself after about three months to start walking.”

He started out at just a half-mile a day, now he is up walking two or three miles three days a week.

Like many others, the “Ganger Gang” returns to compete in Steve’s Run on a regular basis. Part of it is because if benefits cancer research. But there is more to it than that.

“I started this before I knew I had cancer,” Ron said. “My dad died from cancer. My birthday is always a week before the race, so after the race we go to somebody’s house and celebrate my birthday and the race. The family really looks forward to it.”

Ron and Pam also like the atmosphere of the race and how the community supports it.

“It is well run,” Pam said.

“There are these two families on Jefferson Street who always set up a latter and put a hose over the top of it and set up a sprinkler for us to run through, which is really neat.”

For the second straight year, Steve’s Run will begin and end at the David C. Briegel Building on the campus at Southwestern Michigan College.

Registration continues for the 5K run/walk, 10K run and one-mile fun run.

Regular registration is $20 through July 28. Late registration is $30 July 29 and race day.

The fun run is just $1.

To register, go to https://stevesrun.swmich.edu.