In 2024, I will line up in Hopkinton for my 19th Boston Marathon, my 23rd full length marathon. Over the years I have run countless miles in the cold and snow to train for Boston, but more importantly with your generous support, I have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research. I started running for Dana Farber in 2011, shortly after my lifelong childhood friend Julie was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. We lost Julie in November 2019, just one day before her 40th birthday. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Julie, her memory is everywhere in our beloved Needham.
Over the years, I've had the misfortune to add others to my list of people I run for. In 2017, my healthy marathon running auntie Linda, the one who inspired me to become a runner, was diagnosed with Lung cancer. Despite the fact that Linda was a lifelong runner, in incredible shape, she passed away from lung cancer less than 6 months after her diagnosis. She was always tracking me and checking in on me on marathon Monday and every time I near the finish line, I can imagine the text waiting for me.
Last year, I had the absolute honor of running for the very best (and cutest) Patient Partner Mia Lee. This year I will be again be paired with Mia and after crossing her own treatment finish line shortly after the 2023 Boston Marathon, I look forward to a lot more celebrating with a healthy cheerleading Mia!
In addition to Mia, Linda and Julie, I run for all the friends and parents and colleagues who have been impacted by cancer over the years. I look forward to the day when I have no one else to add to my list of honorees...
