Eleven marathons down, countless miles to go before we see an end to cancer.

Over the past decade, I have been running the Boston Marathon support cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a member of the DFMC (Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge) team. On Monday, I completed my 11th marathon!

During my first year, I was partnered with Brittany Lambert, a young girl from Duxbury, as part of a special patient/partner program between DFMC and the Jimmy Fund. Brittany passed away the following fall from myelodsyplasia, but I've continued to run in memory of her each year and have become close friends with her family. Her older sister, Brianne, was one of my bridesmaids at my wedding in 2003. Earlier this year, the Lambert/Haehnel family relocated to Florida.

At the 2003 Boston Marathon, I partnered up with Amber DaRosa, the daughter of one of my husband's best friends, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age four. Amber finished her treatment two years later and continues to do well! The DaRosas relocated to NH, but still come down for the marathon every year.

In 2005, I began running in memory of Mark Schlowsky-Fischer, the husband of a good friend from college. Mark passed away in October 2004 after an 11-month battle with Burkett's lymphoma. His wife, Karen, has recently remarried and lives in New Jersey, but continues Mark's legacy through a support organization, Young Cancer Spouses.

For the past two years, I also ran in honor of my mother-in-law, Mary Hagerty, who completed treatment for breast cancer. What is amazing is that this is her second battle with breast cancer - the first time was in her late 20s in an era when treatment was not nearly as comprehensive as it is today.

These are just a few of my reasons for continuing to run, more than a decade later. Thank you for your continued support!

Why do I run?
A lengthy archive of current and past fundraising letters:

• this year's letter
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998

Can't believe I've run all those marathons?
A fun archive of running photos

• Learn more about the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research on the official DFMC site.
• Check out the Boston Marathon site to learn more about this historic run.

2008 Fundraising Progress
As of 7/1/2008

0%

100%

Current level: 102.7% ($8,421.00) Goal: $8,200

Yes -- we made the initial goal!
Let's shoot for $9,000!

Donations will be accepted
through the end of JULY!

Click here to make your gift now online
via credit card
You will be transferred to the DFMC site.

Click here to mail your contribution by check
A PDF form will be launched for you to print and mail.

Year	Amount Raised
1998	$2,725 donated
1999	$10,165 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $11,665
2000	$7,321 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $8,821
2001	$4,927 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $6,427
2002	$5,950.90 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $7,450.09
2003	$6,972.70 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $8,472.70
2004	$6,595.10 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $8,095.10
2005	$6,448.10 donated, matched by $1,500 Total of $7,948.10
2006	$6,551.62 donated
2007	$6,722.87 donated
	$77,603.48 raised in TEN years
2008	$8,200 goal