I am participating in the 2022 Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, taking steps toward the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.
I was diagnosed in 2017 with Ovarian Cancer and this year reached my 5 year mark with this disease thanks to the Dana Farber and the wonderful doctors and compassionate staff there. The 5 year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer is 49%, vs with all cancers the rate is 68% according to the American Cancer Society. Approximately 22,500 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019 and 13,980 women died from the disease. We need to do better. In the past 3 years I met 18 women who have succumbed to the disease: Some were good friends, others acquaintances. A crazy number for the small circle of those I know living with the disease. Catherine with her quick wit and charm, Chris the artist, Katie the dancer, Andi the poet, Susan another artist and graphic designer, Dawn the most colorful woman I ever met who had a beautiful smile, Rachel the researcher, Nola the labor and delivery nurse who had the biggest heart, Jan one of the funniest people I ever knew.....Unfortunately I could go on and on. Many of these incredibly strong women I met through the most wonderful support group named Turning the Tide Cancer Retreat.
When I received news of two women in our group who had passed close to a week apart just over a week ago with another passing this past July, I thought enough is enough! What can I do to help, and unfortunately the answer lies in research which requires money. So I apologize for the timing as I know so many people have donated to the Pan Mass Ride. But we can make a difference!!! The funds our team raises will be directed to Dana Farber's Ovarian Cancer Doctors' who are at work on cutting edge treatments including moving forward with the development of vaccines that target individual's tumors.
Please consider joining our team or donating to our mission. Any amount will help! THANK YOU!
