A close brush with death two years ago changed Megan Gulley Hunt's life.

Hunt went to the doctor April 30, 2007, complaining of pain in the right half of her head. After a CAT scan and MRI, Hunt was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

"I was 30 years old," Hunt says. "I had a 10-month-old boy named Joshua and a 3-year-old girl named Halle. All I truly thought about was me being on chemotherapy and radiation for a long time and not making it."

Hunt underwent surgery on June 13, 2007. Her surgeon, Dr. Alan Friedman, at Duke University Medical Center, removed a mass of benign tissue. After spending six weeks recovering, Hunt was able to get her life going again with no serious side effects, but with a new outlook and attitude.

"I go on vacations more, spend more time with my kids and family," says Hunt. "It has changed who I am, and my vision of life."

One new practice in her life is her participation in "Angels Among Us," a 5K run and Family Fun Walk through Duke University's campus and gardens. This year's run takes place Saturday, April 25, and Hunt is looking to get others involved.

Hunt regularly ran in races before her surgery, but she says running in "Angels Among Us" was a different experience.

"It's a whole other thing to run in support of a cause," she says. "It was inspiring to see so many people there, involved because they'd been affected by brain tumors in one way or another."

The event is a fundraiser for the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. The idea began in 1994 with two employees from Duke who had each lost a family member to brain tumors and was originally known as the Duke Forest 5K.

In its first year, the run raised $27,000. At last year's run, the total raised came to $1,145,911. Funds go toward research and support of new and innovative treatment of brain and spinal tumors, which have the greatest impact on the lives of patients. The team that raises the most money is honored in a ceremony at the end of the event.

Hunt has started a team based in Moore County named "Moore for a Cure" and has 10 people signed up so far.

"We're getting T-shirts for team members, and the team is going to meet up in Durham before the race. Local businesses can get their names on our shirts by making a donation," says Hunt.

Anyone interested in joining "Moore for a Cure" can sign up online at www.angelsamongus. org or can call Hunt at Gulley's Garden Center at 692-3223 (ask for Megan).

Hunt requests that those signing up online call her and let her know that they've joined her team. Even those not interested in running can be involved. Donations can be made in the name of Hunt's team.

Checks should be made to Duke University 09BT and should list "Moore for a Cure" under information.

Hunt was born and raised in Southern Pines. Her parents started Gulley's Garden Center in 1974. She and her husband, Chris, live in Southern Pines and have two children, Halle, 5 and Joshua, 2.

Contact Laura Eddy at laura@thepilot.com.