About Me

My Goal: Run the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2019 with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. Raise $17,000 (or more!) where 100% of funds raised benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. I run in honor of my friend Chris Davie who is battling brain cancer. I also run in honor for my friend RJ and his continued cancer-free life, in memory of Heather Thomson, and for other family and friends who are or have battled cancer. Together we can help Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reach the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer

Barr Program Impact Statements

Barr Program Impact Statements

Immunotherapies: New Ways to Activate the Immune System—An important area of cancer research asks why the human body's defense systems do not always attack and destroy tumors as they form. Funded by the Claudia Adams Barr Program, Glenn Dranoff, MD, discovered complex regulatory pathways in the human immune system that cancers exploit in order to escape destruction. Reversal of these effects can lead to the development of vaccines against cancer, like Provenge for prostate cancer. This research has also enabled the development of immune-activating drugs such as ipilimumab, which showed striking effects in melanoma in a trial led by Dana-Farber scientists and is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment.

Friday, January 18, 2019

Peace

Chris moved into hospice on Dec 31, 2018.  Just over a week later and after an 11 year battle with brain cancer, Chris passed away peacefully with his family nearby.

Over the last 6 months, Chris worked with the Health Story Collaborative to record his story, communicate what was important to him and be able to share these feelings with his family after he was gone.  Recently, Boston's NPR station, WBUR, featured the Health Story Collaborative, including Chris's story. As I go out for my run tomorrow I will think of Chris and reflect on how he lived fully while battling cancer these last 11 years.
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1 comment:

  1. BetsyJanuary 23, 2019 at 6:46 PM

    Thank you for running for Chris. We miss him, but your efforts are so meaningful.

    ReplyDelete

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