Why I Have Run 5 DFMCs

As many of you know, in April 2012, I ran my first Boston Marathon with DFMC.  It was nearly 90F and quite the challenge, but nothing like the challenges for those battling cancer.  This fact motivates me during the winter training runs and the marathon itself.  So how did I come to run on DFMC?
I ran the NYC marathon in Nov 2011 and decided before the race that if I finished and felt good, I would apply to a charity team for Boston 2012.  I ran NYC on Sunday, on Monday on the train back to Boston decided to apply to DFMC and completed the application on Tuesday evening.  I applied to DFMC as I had done my graduate work next door to Dana-Farber and knew several investigators at Dana-Farber.  I wanted to run for my grandmother, who had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and my great aunt. I wanted to run for an organization that I knew would make the most of my fundraising efforts.

Patient Partner Poster Party, 2012

After applying to DFMC, I was accepted within a week; I then applied to the Patient Partner Program, was paired with RJ and we begun a partnership that neither of us knew would continue for 5 years.

When I first met RJ in 2012, RJ had recently completed his cancer treatment and you would not have known that he had just beaten cancer.  RJ was looking, acting and behaving as you'd expect of any 14-year old.  This was not what I had expected when I applied to the program but as I got to know RJ, his passion for the Red Sox and great outlook on life, I couldn't have been happier to be paired with RJ.  As I spent more time with RJ and his family, I learned more about RJ's illness, his treatments and his Make-A-Wish trip.  I've heard about the great work at Camp Sunshine and the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, both camps for kids coping with cancer and their families.

Undergoing treatment

The biggest disappointment of my 2012 marathon was at mile 25, where RJ was waiting for me.  With the 90F temps, I was a bit out of it and didn't see RJ as I ran up the bridge.  RJ's sister ran up next to me and my immediate thoughts were 'Great, she's running me to where RJ is'.  It didn't dawn on me until we were off the bridge that we had passed all the DFMC fans and I had not seen RJ.  It was the lowest point of the marathon and is still something that I'm disappointed by.  Though disappointed, I had decided before the marathon that I wanted RJ to have the finisher's medal from the marathon.  After beating cancer, he had overcome more than I could imagine and was happy to share the marathon with him in this way.

2016 Poster Party

After the 2014 marathon, our 3rd together, I realized that RJ would be graduating in 2016 and it would be my 5th DFMC.  I knew then that if RJ was in for 2 more years, I would run in honor of him and that's how I've come to run 5 DFMCs and together we've raised more than $61,000 for innovative cancer research!  With these funds and all those raised by DFMC, we can reach the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer!

A few final thoughts to wrap up: I'm so glad to be running for RJ again this year.  His perseverance and positive outlook are something that we can all aspire to.  As an example, this past fall RJ worked with Boston's Mayor Walsh and the City Council to proclaim September to be Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  I got to watch RJ stand by Mayor Walsh's side at the press conference and see the proclamation that RJ received.  As I prepare to run the Boston Marathon in 1 week, I am honored to run for RJ and what he's accomplished.  RJ has motivated me through each of my Boston Marathons and will certainly motivate me again in 1 week.

At City Hall with RJ