Dear Friends and Family,
As I think about this 2024 season of fundraising and running for Dana-Farber, I could not be more grateful. Grateful for your incredible generosity – last season, with the help of so many of you I (we!) raised over $27k…this season, together we will surpass well over $200,000 raised. And, most importantly, so very grateful for what that means - we significantly contribute to a world-renowned research program that has led to immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and many treatment advancements for all types of cancer. The Barr Research Program for Innovative Cancer Research receives 100% of what we raise, and our 2023 team raised $7.8M.
And of course, through Dana-Farber I met my patient-partner Norah. She will be 16 in April!! She has survived terminal brain cancer. I can’t help but include pictures here of Norah through the years – talk about inspiration! Also through Dana-Farber, Susan and her son Kyle came into my life. Kyle is my In-Memory partner. While he lost his life to a rare form of bone cancer at 21, his legacy of positivity and perseverance lives on, as another reason to keep doing all we can.
Eleven years ago, my wonderful father was my initial reason for joining this team. He will always be my inspiration, as will my three sisters-in-law, Sue, Jenny, and Lisa, along with Norah and Kyle, Luisa, Bunny and so many others. Every single time I add a name to my shirt, and every time someone in my life, or yours, is diagnosed or has a recurrence, I want to do more.
This year, I again dedicate my run to Lisa Shapiro. Lisa has been living with a brain tumor since the age of 19, requiring multiple surgeries, treatment and constant monitoring, and I don’t know anyone more positive and resilient. I am also dedicating this year to the memory of Sandy Garufy, who passed away in June, after three years of battling cancer. Like my dad, Sandy went to law school later in life. She was a third-year law student at the same time that my dear friend Lisa (Sandy’s daughter) and I were first-year students at the very same law school. She was a cherished mother, grandmother and friend, and touched the lives of so many.
For all of these reasons, my most important goal is to raise as much money as I can for cancer research. I am proud to be on this team of dedicated fundraisers for my 11th year, and on the DFMC board for the 7th year.
Thank you so very much!
Julie
617-835-2363 jas@shapiroelderlaw.com
P.S. I run with the names of many of you, or your loved ones, on my race shirt. Please know the names will remain on my shirt every year, inspiring me, regardless of whether you donate again. If you lost someone to cancer, or anyone in your life has cancer or is a survivor, it would be my privilege to run in their honor or memory. Please let me know the names of those you would like added, and I will run with them in my heart. ❤❤❤
