Triathlete Given 5% Survival Odds Now Hosts 6th Life Run

When doctors diagnosed professional triathlete Siri Lindley with acute myeloid leukemia six years ago, they gave her just a 5% chance of survival. Today, the Santa Ynez resident calls herself a "living miracle" and channels that second chance into helping others celebrate every precious moment.

Lindley's cancer caught her completely off guard. She and her wife, fellow professional athlete Rebekah Keat, initially chalked up her fatigue and leg pain to turning 50 and decades of intense training.

When Lindley went in for a pre-op assessment for hip replacement surgery, her blood work revealed the shocking truth. "My doctor said I could have been gone within weeks," Lindley recalled.

Within a year, Lindley achieved remission after two clinical trials, a bone marrow transplant, and months of chemotherapy and radiation at UCHealth Anschutz in Colorado. Her journey became the subject of an upcoming documentary called Tri Me, set to stream this spring.

But Lindley's most meaningful legacy might be the annual Celebrate Life Run she hosts at Believe Ranch and Rescue, the nonprofit horse sanctuary she operates with Keat. The sixth annual 5K takes place Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. in Santa Ynez.

"It's a day to celebrate your own life, someone you love and their life, maybe someone who's passed, or someone that's fighting a diagnosis," Lindley explained. Participants can meet rescue horses, browse local merchant pop-ups, and reflect on life's gift.

Why This Inspires

The event serves a dual purpose that amplifies its impact. Proceeds support the ranch's mission to rescue horses from livestock sales before kill buyers can purchase them for slaughterhouses. In eight years, Lindley and Keat have saved 356 horses, with 51 currently in their care.

Many of these rescued animals now provide equine therapy for people with PTSD and other disorders. The ranch also partners with the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation to host healing events where children battling cancer can bond with horses.

Between caring for horses and creating beginner-friendly 15-minute workout programs for their online fitness community, Lindley and Keat stay focused on helping others thrive. "It's reminding people: Live your best life now because this is the only one you get," Lindley said.

For someone who conquered 12 international triathlon championships, beating cancer with 5% odds stands as her greatest victory.