Fighting Cancer: If not me, then who? If not you, then who?

It is not secret that this year training has been challenging for me. I have really been struggling with getting in all the miles because like so many of my teammates, family members and friends-our days are filled with so much and our to-do lists are growing faster than we can cross tasks off the list.  We work too many hours. We fill our calendars with more than should be squeezed into a 24 hour period. We do the best to make it all work and expect that it should. In fact, many of us live as if there are more than 24 hours in a day and when we struggle, we wonder why? I am happy to say that while not perfect, this week was better. I logged almost 30 miles this week. Getting back to our team runs after the holidays was the reminder that I needed. We run to raise funds to fight cancer.  As challenging as it is, it is one of the most important things I do. 

Team Matty- One of my greatest reminders

Fundraising Update:

This week has been a strong fundraising week. I am $1150 more than I was a week ago and have now raised $4425.  This means I am now $10,575 away from my goal of $15,000. I am so very appreciative of all the support I have received. I will also share that I received an incredibly generous $1000 donation from one of my dearest anonymous friends. This is my largest donation this year and I am incredibly grateful at this unbelievable level of commitment and support. I am in awe! Each and every dollar brings us a step closer to our collective goal. So whether you can donate $5 or $1000 it all makes a difference. So thank you for your continue support at whatever level you can! It is so appreciated and will be put to such great use. 

If not me, who?

Fighting Cancer is why we run. It is that simple. I think many people would be surprised how many of us would not be running this far and in this cold, if it were not for this unifying sense of purpose-fighting cancer. It is true, I, like many of my teammates do not love to run for hours in the cold temperatures of New England. We do it because it allows us to make a difference. The fight against cancer is not an easy one. It is a long road and demands a sustained commitment. We log miles each week to fuel the fight with our feet and our fundraising. After the 18 weeks of training and fundraising, it is a collective five million dollar difference. So we run even though it is hard and we ask for donations even though we know money may be tight. This is not someone's battle to fight. It is all our fight. 

My inspiring teammates who logged 16 miles with one purpose-fighting cancer

 When I get up early on a Saturday morning after a long work week to go run 16 or more miles in the freezing cold, I do find myself asking, “Why do I do this?” It does not take long and I am very quickly reminded of the many people for whom my teammates and I run. I see pictures of my friend Matt’s nephew Josh or Matty Dubuc. I am reminded of the Dubuc Family (team Matty) who will be also facing the cold to make sure we have water, gatorade and gummy bears. I am reminded of all my family, friends and co-workers who have been impacted by cancer and who have lost love ones and for the many who continue to fight the good fight. I am reminded of the five people whose names were on the back of my shirt when  I ran last year and who were also alive and who have since lost their battle with cancer. I am reminded of my teammates who are cancer survivors and who join me to run in the cold because they can and because they are not finished fighting cancer even though they are now cancer free. I am reminded of how devastating a disease cancer is and the many lives it touches of those whom I do not even know.

 In the midst of what feels like despair, I am also reminded that possibility exists when cutting edge research at Dana Farber is funded. It is here where possibility becomes probable in the distant future. Then my rhetorical question of “Why?” is answered with another question, “if not me, then who?” It is here I am reminded that we all have responsibility to make the world a better place. Change begins with me and with each and every one of us. If we accept the responsibility for making the change we must act. Training for the marathon and making this a priority for 18 weeks per year is hard. It is incredibly hard.  I will not sugar coat it. It is a huge demand on time and is physically demanding. However, it has allowed me to raise over $30,000 in two short years. If I did not make this commitment to run and have the support of so many family members, friends, and co-workers that would be $30K less to fight cancer research. This is why I continue to get out and log the miles (and also donate) and I hope you will continue to support my efforts because it is our collective effort that is making the enormous difference. My running is made meaningful only when combined with your support.

 I also continue to be inspired by my teammates and want to share a quick example of the challenges that training brings. One of my teammates was not able to run with us this past weekend. It was her daughter’s birthday and she wanted to spend the day with her. So what did she do? She got up at 3:30am and ran 16 miles on her treadmill so she could get her miles in without interrupting her time with her daughter. If that is not dedication and commitment to fighting cancer, I am not sure what is. My teammates and I have accepted the commitment and responsibility to fight the good fight.  We often ask, “If not us, then who?” I guess, when thinking about fundraising and the many donations we need, I can also ask, “If not you, then who?” What is your answer? I hope you will continue to support our efforts in any way you can and help Dana Farber reach the ultimate goal- a world without cancer. Here is the link to my fundraising page http://www.runDFMC.org/2014/kerryd. Help keep the momentum going.

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Boston 2014: We are Boston Strong. We are DFMC Strong.

We are Back at It

 I began training for the Boston Marathon once again back in December, as a member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team. After the events of last year, it is with many mixed emotions that I entered this training season. Perhaps this is why it has been so challenging to find the time and space to log all the miles and returning to documenting my experience through this blog. After yesterday’s 13.1 mile training run in the snow with my training buddy Steve and the many reminders of why we do what we do, I have found a renewed sense of purpose and my way back to the blog. I  hope you will join me again on this journey.

Mile 8 on our 13.1 mile Training Run in Wayland, MA 1/19/2014

Slow Out of the Gate

 It is with a heavy heart fueled by optimism, resilience and the collective strength that gives meaning to the words “Boston Strong” that I have started to retrace my steps and embark on another journey to cross the Boston Marathon finish line. At the core of all my efforts are the funds we raise for Dana Farber and the amazing research that is made possible because of the miles logged and the collective generosity of our many friends, family and supporters. While the training season has not started off as smoothly as I would like, running and life has taught me that a smooth start is not always indicative of what the journey holds. So I am applying that same reasoning to accept that a slow start also does not have to define the journey. As of today we are 91 days away from the Boston Marathon 2014 which means I have 91 more days to prepare myself to log the final 26.2 miles on April 21, 2014 and to raise $15,000 to support cancer research. While I have logged a number of miles and experienced some challenging long runs these last two weekends, I am ready to dig deep and find both the heart and the strength to kick it up a notch because I believe so strongly in the work that is being done at Dana Farber and the overall goal that drives each and every training mile and every dollar raised- A world without Cancer. I am Boston Strong. I am DFMC Strong.

Fundraising Update: “It always seems impossible until it is done.” 

As of today I have raised $3,275 towards my goal of $15,000. Thank you so much to all of you have already contributed! Your generosity and continued support is greatly appreciated and makes the impossible seem possible. We may still have a way to go and at this point in our journey the miles seem long. My longest run has been 13.1 miles. On April 21^st I will run double that.  The fundraising dollars seem equally as far off in the distance.  We are $11,725 away from our goal of $15,000. However, as Nelson Mandela so wisely reminded us that “it always seems impossible until it is done.” I find his words very fitting and you can expect to read more references to him this year. As we entered 2014, I have made one of my goals to study his life and to try in whatever ways I can to incorporate his ideas and strength of spirit into my own life and experience.  His life certainly exemplified all that is possible (even when the current conditions suggest otherwise) and an enduring strength of spirit that I find so aspirational and yet so difficult to comprehend.

 During our run yesterday, I found myself thinking a lot about Mandela. As the snow fell and the conditions became more challenging, I, like many of my teammates, was tired and cold. I kept at it and found myself saying “27 years.”  This is how long Mandela was in prison. As I repeated it in my head it moved from a demonstrative statement to more of a question, “27 years?” This really helped keep me focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

 After all, I would only be running for several hours. Any discomfort or struggle I felt seemed so small and insignificant when thinking about the enduring spirit of Mandela. Then of course there were the many reminders of the lives impacted by cancer and the day-to-day struggles they endure and have endured that enter my mind when I am running with my DFMC teammates. Perhaps, it is because most of my teammates run “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone they love. Some are cancer survivors. Or maybe it is because my good friend Sandy and her family (aka  TEAM MATTY) always seem to find time to volunteer for our runs, to host blood drives, and to continue to honor the memory of Matty who left us way too soon. So even when my feet are tired or when I think I cannot possible run that far, I think of Sandy and her enduring spirit to keep going even when like Mandela, I do not know how she does what she does. This keeps me going, one step at a time, one mile at a time and one dollar at a time. 

While finding a cure may seem impossible to some, the collective sound of Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team members’ feet hitting the pavement this past Saturday in the midst of a New England snow storm and the many volunteers who were there with water and Gatorade are reminders that we have not accepted it as impossible. I hope you will continue to support us in whatever way you can! Collectively we can make a world without cancer possible. Each mile logged and each donation made helps to bring us one step closer to the ultimate goal- A world without cancer. You can visit my fundraising page by clicking this link http://www.runDFMC.org/2014/kerryd.

With Gratitude,

Kerry D