In April, I will be running the Boston Marathon representing Team Christine and Dana-Farber. My connection to Christine Stec began many years ago as her colleague in the Dedham Public Schools. Over the years, as luck would have it, her two children were students in my classroom, and my two children were students in hers. What a special gift. When each of my children were in Christine’s 4th grade class, I was invited to visit them for lunch to celebrate them as “rockstar of the week” and I heard stories at the dinner table of Mrs. Stec acting as “cruise director” to engage students in creative social studies lessons. With Christine as their teacher, they learned, they laughed, and, of course, they DANCED! They simply adored her.
My youngest son was in Christine’s class the year she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Her positive spirit remained steadfast as she showed a classroom full of scared 9 and 10 year olds just what bravery looks like. “Today is a good day to have a good day” became her motto as she continued moving forward, and insisted the rest of us do the same. In honor of the lessons she taught so many of us within and beyond the walls of a classroom, I will be running the Boston Marathon. May these efforts help lead to finding a cure for cancer.
