Heather's 2015 marathon letter

Dear family and friends,

One week from today, I will once again lace up my sneakers and join about 30,000 runners in Hopkinton for the 2015 Boston Marathon. More than 500 will be wearing bright orange and teal singlet as members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team, and I’m proud to be one of them.

This will be my 18th year running for Dana-Farber. I’m told that the number 18 holds significance in some cultures and religions and usually symbolizes good luck.  It has been my incredible good fortune to run for the amazing Barr Program researchers at Dana-Farber. I’ve had the opportunity on several occasions to meet some of these brilliant scientists. The funds that you have helped me raise enables them to explore new lines of research that may not yet be eligible for federal funding. Barr investigators are leading the way in leading edge research that is opening doors for so many cancer patients.

But not everyone has been as lucky along the way. As I sit here tonight, I think about the family and friends I have lost. A favorite college professor. My father’s cousin.  A former co-worker. Two friends in just their twenties with so much life yet to live. A father in his 40s who could himself raised thousands of dollars for local charities.  My beautiful patient partner, Brittany.

But so many do survive, thanks to researchers at Dana-Farber.  My mother-in-law, my aunt, my best friend’s mother….all breast cancer survivors.  My amazing patient partner, Amber, who recently turned 16….a leukemia survivor. And several more people who are quietly waging their own battle right now while holding down the fort as a parent, a colleague.

This year, I will celebrate a special milestone, “lifetime achievement” for raising more than $100,000 through my years of running with Dana-Farber. This is every bit YOUR achievement as it is mine.  So please run another year with me and take a few minutes today to support my18th marathon run. 100% of your tax-deductible donation funds Barr Program researchers at Dana-Farber, ensuring novel approaches in basic cancer research.

http://www.racedirectors.com/H/marathon.html


With thanks and appreciation,
-Heather

PS -- As always, I will be wearing the names of your loved ones, cancer victims and survivors, on my marathon-day singlet to spur me forward. Be sure to email me so I can include them. And if you plan to be watching the race on Marathon Monday, let me know where you will be standing so that I can look for you.


Read 2014 marathon letter
Return to Marathon page


Last updated on April 13, 2015 .
Any problems, contact Heather.