INSPIRATION TO THE NTH POWER !!!

The hardest part for me, about starting a new blog entry, is trying to encapsulate the many points I want to share, in as few words as possible. I'll be the first to admit that I am not known for my brevity. I'm a passionate person by nature and when I'm passionate about something, I want to tell everyone about it, whatever IT is that I'm passionate about. Well, suffice it to say that after yesterday's training run, my thoughts are jumping all over the place. There were so many awesome experiences and moments yesterday. And yes, they came before, during and after my longest training run of the season. I titled this blog entry "inspiration to the nth power" because this statement really helps me sum up yesterday.

Yesterday is THE training runs of all training runs. This one can come with a lot of trepidation, whether it's your 1st, 5th, 10th or 20th marathon. So, after my obligatory paper route, with the help of my roommate Amy, I was at Boston College meeting with the team once again. I shot this pic from a balcony.

As I've mentioned before, this is when we hear about fundraising milestones, announcements about marathon weekend logistics, stories of inspiration and some words of advice about the training run we are about to tackle. Each and every week, we hear from someone who asks us to think about someone important to them who is currently battling cancer. This really puts everything into perspective for each runner. A 3 to 4 hour training run is nothing compared to what a cancer patient or their family members, goes through. Even though I experienced it as a teenager, what it was like to watch my mom battle daily, I speak from experience when I say that, with time, I don't remember all of it. And not that I need to be reminded, but hearing my fellow teammates sharing a story brings me back to that time. These stories underscore why what we are doing is so important. So many people are in need of help. I've said it before, being able to run for Dana Farber is a gift, and I'm so honored to be able to do so.

Last week's blog was dedicated entirely to Matty. He is all the inspiration I ever need. Matty's mom Sandy spoke before yesterday's run and she's done this in past years. Matty's angelversary always falls around the time of the longest training run. In her speech, she talked about Matty's battle and all the things he had to endure. She introduced her husband Johnny and son's Chris & Zach. Sandy's mom Charlene and dad Richard where there as well. She also shared what it's been like, especially for her two sons, to have seen and experienced all they had to at such a young age while Matty was sick, and growing up as kids, without their brother Matty. Sandy asked that we direct our attention to the siblings of those battling cancer and those who lost their lives to cancer. Cancer, as we all know, affects the entire family. I've met some amazing people in my life, but Sandy's resilience, in the face of her son's passing, amazes me. How she was able to keep it together as she spoke, while reliving yet again all she and the family has been through, is beyond me.



Yesterday was also the anniversary of Matty's funeral. I lose it every time she speaks and so do so many others in the room. She doesn't do it for sympathy though. As Sandy said in a Facebook post yesterday, "sharing Matty's story is what I do best!" She thanked each and every one of us for doing our part to help her keep Matty's memory alive. Then she thanked me personally for running the marathon in his memory by presenting me with this. I've said this numerous times, it truly is an honor to run for Matty !

As I said in the title of this blog, inspiration to the nth power is what yesterday was all about. Yesterday's distance was 20 to 22 miles, again depending on each runner's ability. But before I talk about how the run went yesterday, I want to share what each runner experienced yesterday. We started at Boston College and ran the entire distance on the marathon course. 11 miles heading west from BC to Natick, then turn around for the 11 miles back to BC. Not only was the DFMC team on the course, but runners from just about every other charity and all the other runners getting in their final big training run before taper begins. There were thousand and thousand of runners on the course. We had the support of 100 and 100's of volunteers, there were course monitors as well, and police from Wellesley and Newton at the critical intersections directing traffic. Even though the traffic was backed up for what seemed like miles, the people in their cars were very accommodating. Anyone who lives along the marathon course knows that this day is all about the runners getting in their longest training run. The energy is intense and the excitement of marathon day is building too! There were even a few spectators cheering the runners on as well. This is just a precursor to the big day, but after the awful winter we're coming off of and all the training runs in the cold and snow, with nobody to cheer runners on, it was a nice change.


Sandy, Johnny, Chris & Zach,  Sandy's parents Charlene & Richard, and Cheryl Leeman, my friend Alicia's mom, volunteered at the 3rd of 4 water stops. This water stop is, by far, always the one with the most energy. So many non DFMC runners stop here too! Dont' Stop Believing was blaring in the speakers. Below are just a few of the pictures that were taken.

Sandy, her mom Charlene & dad Richard

 

 

I think it's pretty apparent that everyone here is enjoying themselves, runners and volunteers alike. The sense of team, common purpose, making a difference and inspiration is what each and every one of us feels when we meet as a group. We also carry the hopes the dreams for so many people, including cancer patient, family and friends, and perfect strangers. We run for those who can't, and we remember those that were physically and mentally affected by the tragic events of last year.

As the first anniversary of the unimaginable closes in, we are getting closer and closer to reclaiming what was taken away from us last year, celebrating the spirit of the Boston Marathon. No single act of violence and cowardice can detract or take away from the greater good. Boston Strong is alive and well, though it never really disappeared.

Kerry and I were very pleased with the way the training run turned out yesterday. We have both had our share of problems this season. For me, it's been about fatigue. In the last few blog entries, I shared that I was hitting the wall very early on in the run, like around miles 14 or so. This was uncharted territory for me. I have run at least 2x's as many half marathons and longer distances, and usually experienced fatigue much later on in my runs. Needless to say, I was beginning to question my abilities and even wondered if I had the earned the right to run the marathon. The only major difference this year from years past, is the paper route. I didn't think being on my feet for 2 hours before a 3 hour run would affected me adversely. Well, turns out it does. My awesome roommate Amy offered to do most of the door to door deliveries yesterday while I drove and stayed in the car for the majority of it and low and behold, I was able to log in 21.3 miles yesterday. And, better yet, I felt as though I could have continued further. With no time left to experiment, suffice it to say that I was pleased to have figured out the problem. The beauty of this training run is that by the time we reach the turn around point in Natick and head back to BC in Newton, it's as if we began our run at the start in Hopkinton. So, this training run is good way to gauge, all things considered, how you will do on race day.

Fundraising: It was announced yesterday that the team, collectively, has surpassed the $4 million dollar mark toward the team goal of $5.3 million dollars and as of this writing, I am at $4,554.00.  I am so thankful to those of you who have already donated, some of you for the first time this year, others of you every since 2007, when I ran my first marathon for Dana-Farber. With the marathon just 3 weeks away, I still have a long way to go to reach my goal as well as help the team reach its goal. If you haven't already done so, please consider making each mile I run meaningful to those who need it most, by making a donation to this cause.

With heartfelt thanks, appreciation and many, many inspired miles.....

Steve
















Matty Dubuc......9/24/99 - 3/25/07 7 Year Angelversary !

 

 

Tuesday, March 25th, marks 7 years that Matty earned his angels wings, known forevermore as his angelversary date. I know that this day is so hard for Matty's mom Sandy, father Johnny and brothers Chris and Zach. I'd have to say that I feel as anxious about this day as his family does, even though I never had the opportunity to meet Matty. However, I feel as though I've known him since the day he was born, thanks to all the things that Matty's immediate family does, as well as countless other people, who constantly do their part to keep Matty's memory alive. I know that Matty touched so many lives during his brief life here on earth. I also know, without a doubt, that even in death, he continues to live on and inspire so many peoples lives.

 

I learned about Matty during my first year as a member of the DFMC team. Berta Sinclair was on the team as well and she was paired up with Matty. Berta was Matty's Patient Partner and she would let us all know, prior to us heading out for our training run, how Matty was doing. As the marathon was drawing nearer, Matty's condition was deteriorating but Berta would give the group updates and asked us to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers. Below is a picture of Berta and Matty. Runners signing banners for people battling cancer, young and old, is a common practice during DFMC training season.

 

 

 

 

My first marathon was April 16th, 2007, just three short weeks after Matty earned his angels wings. What completely amazed me more than anything was seeing Sandy and Johnny at the Pasta Party, just 3 weeks after Matty went to heaven. As it was my first Pasta Party, I really had no idea what to expect that afternoon. Matty's life sized poster was the first of many posters everyone saw before they entered the two large ball rooms where the pasta party was to be held. Little did I know that shortly thereafter, the "In Memory" portion of the program would take place. There is not a dry eye in the room as the picture of each child, paired up with a runner who is running in their memory who has passed away from cancer, is shown. To this day I don't know how Sandy & Johnny were able to sit through that just 3 short weeks after Matty went to heaven. But, having gotten to know them since, I can understand why they were there and have continued to take part in the DFMC season ever since. They are so grateful to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Jimmy Fund, Boston Children's Hospital and of course the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.

 

I wanted to use this weeks blog entry to honor Matty's brave battle with cancer by sharing some of the many pictures of Matty, his family, and some of the ways he continues to inspire so many, even though he is no longer here. Matty definitely left a legacy and I think that by the time you finish looking at these pictures of him, you'll understand why. They are in no particular order.

 

Another one of his infectious smiles!

Matty, Zach & Chris

Sandy & Matty, hand in hand !

Matty with "Courage" Courage went to heaven with Matty!

There was nothing Matty couldn't do!

Fenway Park

Chris, Zach & Matty!

Matty sure loved cereal



Johnny's return from his 2nd deployment.

As always, Matty smiling, even during a chemo treatment!

Matty & Jason Varitek

Matty in his SpongeBob shorts

First day of school

Matty & Zach

Matty loved being a "big brother" to Zach

Chris & Zach honoring their brother!



 

 

A tattoo of Matty on Johnny's arm.

 

Balloon release on Matty's birthday.

Just one of MANY blood drives !!

NStar Walk for Boston Children's Hospital

The Dubucs' epitomize the quote "it's not the hand you are dealt, but how you play it." I'm pretty sure the only thing in life worse than burying a parent as a child is burying your child. They never cease to amaze me on how much they do to give back. As I mentioned before, so many people played an integral part in Matty's care and they have never forgotten that.

Matty was diagnosed with Stage IV Hepatoblastoma on July 6, 2004. Shortly after finding out on August 1, 2005, that the cancer had returned to his lungs, a web page on CaringBridge.org was created and Sandy regularly made entries. To this day, Sandy periodically posts journal entries on the web page.  Each time she makes an entry, I am sure to read it. Below is Sandy's entry from a few days ago. I'm including it here because I think it's a powerful explanation of what she and her family deal with on a regular basis.

"I always tell my boys not to say the word, "stupid" but in this case, I think it's ok. Stupid cancer!

Matty's angelversary is Tuesday, March 25th. I love that it falls on Greek Independence Day, knowing that so many people will be wearing blue. My boy must love that!

There's a facebook page "Silent Grief - Child Loss Support" that posts my exact thoughts, on a daily basis. This was today's post:

No matter how many years our child has been gone, we will always miss our child. That doesn't mean we are stuck in grief. It simply means that we will always feel that void left by our child and it's quite normal - totally normal - to miss the one who filled that special place in your heart. Yes, life will eventually go on. We realize that. But, life will never be the same, nor will we ever be the same. Hearts touched by child loss are broken hearts and a broken heart will always feel the ache of missing our child. The cliche "time heals all things" does not apply. Time doesn't heal. Time helps us to quiet our tormented hearts, but it never takes away the pain. We will always and forever miss our child, and we long for that day to be with our child again!"

"I miss Matty so much!"

Stupid cancer!

If I could ask everyone to do me a big favor on Tuesday, please take a few minutes from your day to think of the Sandy, Johnny, Chris & Zach and offer up a prayer to them. I know they will go about their business on Tuesday with a heavy heart. Also, if you weren't able to tell from all the pictures, Matty's favorite color was blue. If possible, please wear something blue on Tuesday to help honor Matty.

On behalf of Sandy, Johnny, Chris and Zach, I want to thank all of your for whatever it is you'll do on Tuesday.