Running the Boston Marathon on behalf of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge to Fight Cancer

MY STORY: WHY I'M RUNNING



Growing up I was never much of an athlete. Sure, I was involved in youth sports but you were much more likely to find me on the sidelines braiding the other girls' hair and eating orange slices than you were to see me running down a soccer field or even kicking the ball. The same was true in high school--I played field hockey, but my participation was mainly driven by my desire to hang out with my friends after school and indulge my dad, the father of three girls (poor guy). Fast forward to my college years and working out- yes you guessed it, just wasn't my thing. In fact, I only ever used Providence College's state-of-the-art fitness center to do the bare minimum to try to avoid gaining the freshman fifteen. Now, working out and more specifically, running, has become my outlet to deal with a life-changing event that my family never thought we'd have to face.

About a year ago, with a new job, an apartment in Boston, and newlywed sister and first brother-in-law on their way home from their honeymoon, September 2017 was shaping up to be pretty exciting. This quickly changed when my brother-in-law Patrick (Pat) was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at the young age of 29. The news of Pat's diagnosis was crushing. Shocking. Aside from the fact that he was far younger than the "average" colon cancer patient, Pat was the picture of health at diagnosis. I first met Pat in 2010 when my oldest sister, Amanda, brought him home from Providence College (our now shared alma mater) to meet our family. For as long as I have known him, Pat has been dedicated to working out eating healthy, and staying in shape. In fact, I would be hard pressed to think of a more health-conscious, physically fit person.

Three days post-diagnosis and exactly one month after Pat and Amanda's wedding, I sat with Amanda, my family, and Pat's family at Tufts Medical Center anxiously waiting for Pat to come out of the surgery that he underwent to remove the tumor in his colon. How was it that just one month ago all of us sitting here in this waiting room in Boston were on Cape Cod celebrating the beginning of Pat and Amanda's life together? How was it that just one month ago I stood as Maid of Honor talking about how I couldn't possibly ask for more in a brother-in-law? How could all of this be happening and what is next?

Post-surgery, Pat sought care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to treat metastases in his lungs. To date, he has undergone 26 rounds of chemotherapy and counting. But his resiliency, positivity outlook and faith in the face of this terrible disease are truly inspiring. He has endured painful side effects and upsetting setbacks with courage, hope and determination. And while he is getting the best medical care from professionals that are working tirelessly to help him and thousands of others stay alive and well, I feel a crushing need to find a way to help.

So to answer the question, why I'm running the 123rd Boston Marathon, as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team? I'll run as part of the DFMC to honor Pat and Amanda, our families and the thousands of others struggling with cancer by lending my support- our support! And I will run encouraged by Amanda and Pat's passion for fitness and health and their mission my sister began known as #PandaPower.

http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?px=1074854&pg=personal&fr_id=1110