Dear
family and friends,
Hopefuly the
new last name didn’t fool you—this past August, Tom
and I married on a beautiful Friday afternoon in an outdoor ceremony
overlooking the harbor just north of Boston. But my passion for
running hasn’t changed! I will once again be running the Boston
Marathon—my seventh!—to raise money for cancer research
at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Our wedding has caused me to reflect
on just how much my life has been influenced by running and Dana-Farber
these past six years.
Six years ago,
during my first marathon, I had the pleasure of being partnered
with Brittany Lambert, a beautiful thirteen-year-old girl who was
battling myleodisplasia, a rare blood disease that leads to cancer.
After Brittany's death, I became close friends with her family,
and her older sister, Brianne, did me the honor of being one of
my bridesmaids.
Five years ago,
Tom and I were introduced at a local road race by two mutual friends.
We had both just run our first marathon and unfortunately had both
suffered a loss due to cancer. Tom's nephew, just a toddler, had
passed away from a brain tumor, and Brittany had just past away
a few months previously. Running for Dana-Farber led to a long conversation
over a few beers and, ultimately, our wedding last summer.
Our wedding reflected
our passion for both running races and battling cancer. A local
justice of the peace presided over our ceremony and took special
care to tell the story of how we had met through running. In lieu
of favors, Tom and I decided to make a donation to Dana-Farber in
honor of our guests, and the JP made sure to explain the significance
of our decision and the importance we place on supporting cancer
research. Our family and friends took great pleasure in finally
meeting Brittany's sister and parents; meanwhile, our running friends
kept the dance floor hopping. No detail was overlooked—even
the cake for our rehearsal dinner was adorned with a plastic bride
and groom figurine, to which a friend had cleverly attached running
sneakers, and decorated to look like the start or finish of a road
race.
I purposely left
this detail ambiguous—was this the start or finish? In many
ways, I was at the finish line of my single life, yet at the starting
line of a new phase. However, there is one finish line I have yet
to reach, and I'm hoping that you will help me on my way: the end
of cancer.
Last year, I
mentioned that the daughter of one of Tom's friends had been recently
diagnosed with leukemia. I'm pleased to report that Amber is 1 ½
years into her treatment and is doing remarkably well. Her parents,
Amy and Victor, joined us at our wedding—a double-celebration,
as it marked nearly a year since Amber was first diagnosed. But
there are still several more months of treatment and years of worry
ahead of them.
Over the past
six years you have helped me to raise more than $45,000 for cancer
research at Dana-Farber, and I want to thank you for your never-ending
support, whether financial or emotional. I hope that you will consider
contributing this year and help me reach that finish line that will
end cancer for good. 100% of your tax-deductible donation funds
Barr Program researchers at Dana-Farber, ensuring novel approaches
in basic cancer research.
While a cure
was not found in time for Brittany, I know that the researchers
that we are supporting today will eventually find one for children
like Amber. Thank you for your support and encouragement!
--Heather
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