To my amazing friends and family, it is that time of year again when I come to you on behalf of myself and my team (The Walkie Talkies) in your support of the Dana Fund Cancer Institute Jimmy Fund marathon walk. We are all once again taking up the huge challenge of walking 26.2 miles in hopes of raising funds for this very worthwhile and life changing organization.
As many of you know, my personal battle with cancer began more than six and one half years ago in early 2018 with a shocking diagnosis of Stage 4 HR+ HER- breast cancer, thus beginning the “living with cancer” portion of my life. This journey has never been easy been easy, but this year has been especially difficult from a physical, mental and emotional level. However, through the remarkable work being done at Dana Farber I still keep optimistically and successfully pushing forward (but maybe with a few more new hairstyles and looks…wink…wink). Through the devastation of the initial diagnosis, I quickly learned that due to all the advancements made on a daily basis, there is an abundance of hope out there, not just for myself but for the millions of others living with this disease. We learn to live a life that is a new type of “normal” and one that is full of memories and many many daily joys! Therefore, 2024 will mark my THIRD year in walking the entire 26.2 Mile Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk with my team The Walkie Talkies. Working together, we find that anyone can take steps toward achieving a world without cancer!!❤
In taking on this undertaking, we walk not only on behalf of myself, but also for friends and family members that too have been touched by cancer.
We walk for my sister Dawn that was struck down by leukemia at the age of 19.
We walk for my father Michael who died of colon cancer at the path age of 68.
We walk for my mother Eleanor who survived colon cancer at the age of 70 and lived until 90!
We walk for my sister-in-law Anne who bravely survived breast cancer as a young mother to two boys (who are now two young men, 30 and 28).
We walk for my father-in-law Rich who died of lung cancer at the age of 91.
We walk for Anna Yan who was taken by cancer at an age much too early.
We walk for Joey Hodge.
We walk for Maureen Amaral.
We walk for Owen Olsen.
We walk for Michael Carlin.
We walk for my beautiful friend Cheryl.
We walk for my fellow breast cancer warriors Deborah and April.
We walk for my fierce and strong new friend Kim as she battles liver cancer.
We walk for Aunty Dot, Scott, Anne, Jim, Dan, Nana and Paul.
We would be happy to remember and walk for your loved one also. Please PM me and I will be sure to include them in this day.
I ask that you please consider supporting myself and my team as we participate in the 2024 Jimmy Fund Walk. When you make a gift to this walk, you’re directly supporting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s unique 50-50 balance between cutting-edge research and compassionate patient care. Your support allows Dana-Farber leaders to enhance programs and initiatives that serve pediatric and adult patients and their families.
Thank you all once again for your continued support of our Dana Farber Jimmy Fund Walk fundraising efforts. Together, we can defy cancer!
God bless each and every one of you!🙏❤
