Tauscher represented the East Bay in Washington from 1997 to 2009 when she resigned to join the State Department.
At that time she announced she was battling esophageal cancer. This year, at least 18,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the fastest-growing cancer in the U.S.
Tauscher gave a motivational speech before the start of the 5K event at the Lafayette Reservoir at 8:30 a.m.