I dabbled with running as a leisure activity for many years prior to 2006. Back then, the longest distance I ran, at any given time, was no more than 8 miles. But in 2006, I lost my very good friend Jordan to pancreatic cancer. He was 47. Prior to his death, I lost my mom to cancer back in 1979 after an 18 month battle. She was just 37 years old. I was 16. I also lost my grandmother Clara (my mom's mom) to pancreatic cancer in 1982. Her daughter Helen, my aunt, to brain cancer in 1984. Fortunately, I also have relatives and friends that are cancer survivor's; my uncle Leo to prostate cancer, my aunt Lucille to lung cancer, my step-grandmother to breast cancer, just to name a few.
Running the Boston Marathon became an "item on my bucket list," for lack of a better word, when my good friend Jordan passed away. I went on to the B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association's) website and looked at the various charities that participated in invitational entries to the Boston Marathon. On the top of the list was the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned. With so many family members and a friend affected by cancer, I knew that applying for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team was where I wanted to "make a difference." As most of us have come to learn, cancer is a disease that does not discriminate. As a teenager, all I could do was standby helplessly, and watch cancer reek havoc in my family's life.
Well....that being said, I set on a personal journey to choose to be a difference maker. Why? Because although I am not a doctor, nor a scientist, it became a calling for me to do what I could to put an end to cancer's destructive course. Running for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is my way of doing just that. I hated that feeling of not being able to do anything to help my mother. It changed me as a person forever, no doubt. More importantly, it made me appreciate that life is a gift and that we all have the power to choose how we will react to the cards dealt to each of us. The operative word here is "choose" and though it may just be a small part, it is a proactive part nonetheless.
What I thought would turn out to be a kind of "one and done" event, meaning my first Boston Marathon in 2007, has taken on a life of it's own. To date, I have completed 7 marathons, 5 of them Boston Marathons in 2007 through 2011. I also ran the San Francisco marathon in 2009 and most recently, the Chicago Marathon back in October. I have also completed more than twice as many half marathons. To say I enjoy long distance running is an understatement. My Garmin watch, given to me as a Christmas present by my partents back in 2009, keeps track of each training run, including distance run, average pace during the run, total time of the run and calories burned. As of last week and according to the watch, I have logged well over 3,000 running miles, either in training or actual road races. Since I started running regularly in January of 2007, it is safe to assume I have probably doubled that distance.
So.....for the next four months, or 18 weeks, I will be sharing, via this blog, my thoughts and reflections going into or coming out of a traning run. I will also be giving updates on our fundraising progress. I use the term "our" because it truly is a collaborative effort. All of us have been affected by cancer in one way, shape or form. As I mentioned earlier, there are those of us that are in a postion to cure cancer, there are the individuals who are battling cancer now, may be battling the disease in the future, or those that battled and won. Then there are those of us that fundraise for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute by running the Boston Marathon. There are those individuals that volunteer their time and finally those that donate funds that go directly to innovative cancer research.As a 5th year member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team, it has truly been an honor to be part of a "those that run."
Yesterday was our first team group run. And fortunately, weather-wise, it was a nice day for a training run. Although most, if not all of us, had heavy hearts over the sad events that occurred in Newtown, CT on Friday, we all came together to be difference makers in our own way. Our next team group run is the first weekend in January. The marathon will be here before we know it, but in the meantime, each and everyone one of us on the team will be hitting the pavement from now until April 15th, 2013, whether in very cold temps, snow-covered roads, and possible inclement conditions to perpare for the Boston Marathon.
I humbly ask each and every one of you to please consider making a difference by donating to my run between now and April 15th. Many of you have been so kind and thoughtful in making donations year after year since 2007. It has been 2 years since I last asked for your support. My personal goal is to raise over $7,000 by the end of this year's fundraising campaign. which will surpass $30,000 dollars in total donations since I started fundraising for Dana-Farber.
There are many quotes as to what difference makers are. One of my favorites, and there are many, is as follows:
We must remember that one determined person can make
a significant difference,
and that a small group of determined people
can change the course of history.
- Sonia Johnson
Each year I have dedicated my runs to so many individuals affected by cancer. In 2008, I began dedicating my runs specifically to children who have battled this disease. I dedicated my run in 2008 to Zachary Hedstrom, the son of a woman I grew up with, who battled and overcame a childhood form of leukemia. a significant difference,
and that a small group of determined people
can change the course of history.
- Sonia Johnson
In 2010, I dedicated my run to Brent Mccreesh, who also battled and overcame childhood cancer.
In 2011, I dedicated my run in memory/honor of a special little boy named Matty Dubuc. He is pictured on the left of this blog and below as well.. I will once again be running to honor Matty's brave battle against Hepatoblastoma, a form of childhood liver cancer. Matty endured so much at such young age and, sadly, lost his battle on March 25th, 2007, at the young age of 7.
Although I never met Matty, as he passed away 3 weeks before my first marathon, I have become very good friends with his family. I was, and continue to be amazed at the resiliency of his mother Sandy, father John, and brothers Chris & Zachary who continue to honor his memory though blood drives, fundraising, and balloon releases, just to name a few examples. I was honored to run in his memory back in 2011 and am even more honored to run in his memory in 2013.
I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read this particular posting of my first ever blog. Every story has a beginning or an impetus, if you will.
Lastly, if you would like to make a donation, please click on the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge icon, located on the right margin of this page, to be directed to my fundraising page.
With gratitude and many, many inspired miles.
Steve
