I cannot believe I have started my 5th year of
training for the Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana Farber Marathon
Challenge Team. I hope to be much better with training and blogging this year
as last year was challenging to say the least. The good news is that even
though last year was challenging on all fronts, with your help we raised $15,850. A big heartfelt thanks to all
those who have continued to support my run and in doing so, support and fund
the amazing research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. I am pleased to say I am off to a great start
this year. I have already raised over $3,000 and I am stronger and healthier
than I have been in past years. 2016 will be a great year!
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| Boston Marathon 2012-April 16, 2012 |
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was just starting
my journey with the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team. I was so honored to be
selected to join the team. At the time I was unaware just how much this team,
the training and fundraising would become such part of my life, especially during
the months of December through April. My initial reason for running was simple.
I wanted to honor the memory of a little boy named Josh. Most of you know that
Josh is my dear friend Matt’s nephew who lost his battle to Ewing Sarcoma in
2010 at the age of 12. As a friend, I witnessed the unimaginable pain and grief
that his family had no choice but to endure and continues to endure. Those who have experienced loss know that grief is
something that lingers leisurely with each passing day leaving more reminders of
the loss with little relief. As a friend, I wanted him to know that while time was passing,
I was aware of the enormity of the loss that was present in each day and event
that Josh was not here to experience.
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| Boston Marathon 2012 Finish Line with Matt-1st Year with DFMC |
When I realized that
the 2012 Boston Marathon would fall on April 16th which was the
second anniversary of Josh’s passing, I
knew that running and raising funds in his memory would be a small way to honor his courage and his
memory while also taking action against the horrible disease that took his
life-cancer. My friend Sandy, who had lost her son Matty and who had run with
DFMC, convinced me I could and should do it. This sealed the deal for me. My mind was made up and I ran with DFMC for
both Josh and Matty and so many others. 4 years, 4 marathons and $63,000 later
I am still at it putting one foot in front of the other and asking for
donations to support one thing- a world without cancer.
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| Mile 25-DFMC Cheering Section Boston Marathon 2014 |
As many of you know, the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team
raises funds to support innovative cancer research and 100% of the funds raised
goes directly to support research. Over the past years I have learned that
while we all want a cure for cancer that it is only by funding innovative
research that we will someday have a
cure for this terrible disease. I
continue to run to honor Josh, Matty and so many people who I have come to know
and learn about on this journey. I used to pray and hope for a cure and I still
do this. However, over the past four
years I have learned to put my prayers into action and so I run and raise funds.
I have learned that real hope is experienced in the sustaining commitment of so
many family, friends and coworkers who continue to join and support our
collective effort to run and raise funds to fight this disease.
As I enter my 5th year as a proud member of the
DFMC Team and I officially kick off my training season, I wanted to share a few
thoughts/reflections on both the mystery and the magic I have experienced.
Cancer is a horrific
disease that touches the lives of so many of us. No surprise here. I knew this when I started, but now I REALLY
know this. I have come to realize that I know more people with a cancer story
than without one and this is probably true for many of us. I have also learned
that those who have not been impacted by cancer are likely to be impacted at
some point in their life time. Throughout
my training I have met and been inspired by some of the most amazing people.
This includes my teammates and friends, colleagues and coworkers, acquaintances
and even strangers who have shared their stories with me simply because I run
for DFMC. These are stories of courage and compassion, tragedy and triumph,
love and loss and more love. This is my
continued inspiration and why running one marathon has turned into 5 marathons
with this amazing team. It is a constant, continued call to action that
requires no reminders.
We all have the
ability to make a difference in our world. We must choose to take action in the
ways which we are able and when we do, anything is possible. Four years ago
when I first joined DFMC I was excited about be a part of such an amazing
effort but at the same time I was worried about being able to raise the funds. I
wondered how I was ever going to raise $8,000. I took it one run and one ask at
a time. I was in awe of all the people who stepped up with their support and
encouragement and who continue to do so. For the past 4 years I have raised
over $15,000 each year for a total of over $63,000. I had no idea just how
collectively powerful we could be. We all step up and we raise A LOT of MONEY! 100% of the money raised goes directly to fund
research aimed at the ultimate goal- a world without cancer. Collectively we
are making a huge difference! Some have asked why I continue to run and suggest
that “someone else will run and raise the funds.” This is true yet my response is the same. I
can’t imagine not running. All I need to
do is give 18 weeks of training and $15,000 of much needed funds are raised.
The funds are raised because of the generous support of many! Yet, the need is
still great. I feel like the traveler in
Frost’s poem with “miles to go before I sleep.” I pause and try to imagine a world if we all
stepped up and took action in ways in which we are able. I wonder if we realize how powerful we can be
if we just simply show up and step up. I
will continue to run because I can and as a result I am hoping to raise another
$15,000 or more this year. I hope you will continue to step up with me.
Together, I believe anything is possible. It has to be. There are too many names on my shirt and one name is too many.
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| The Back of my 2015 DFMC Singlet |
We can do hard
things. I am reminded each and every day of the human capacity to endure. I
am reminded this through the many people I know that have lived with cancer,
beaten cancer and those who continue to face the struggles related to cancer
and the wreckage it leaves behind. Training for a running a marathon is hard
but it pales in comparison to the sort of “hard” that many face. My teammates
and I are inspired by the people for whom we run and fueled by the funds we
raise. Raising $15,000 is hard but is so
possible when everyone contributes in the way they can. Finding a cure for
cancer is hard. We all need to do our part. I believe we can do hard things.
Just look around. People do them each and every day. Will you join me once
again in doing our part to imagine a world without cancer? Funding innovative
research is how we get there. We are a
powerful force; one mile and one dollar at a time.
In closing, my wish for this holiday season is that we all
continue to find ways to experience the mystery and magic of being active agents
of positive change in our world. As my friend Jake says, “you can give your
time, talent or treasure.” Our world is
need of all of these things. It is by giving in the ways which we are able that
we begin to create the world we seek.
With gratitude and many inspired miles to go,
Kerry D
http://www.runDFMC.org/2016/kerryd
