Final Race Preparation

In the last week, we have raised nearly $1,000 for the cause bringing the total up to $4,700 to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...wow!  I am amazed to the point of tears by the generosity of all of you to donate to such a fabulous cause and help bring us closer to a cure!  Thank you all!!  

With the race being just 2 days away, the final race preparation has begun.  Yesterday I picked up my bib number and wandered around the race expo.  The excitement has begun in the city as runners from all over the world arrive.  With all the nerves/excitement built up about the race, it makes me want to go for a run to calm down, but my training plan has the final two days as rest days and I need to save  my legs for Monday!  Tomorrow, the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team has a pasta dinner together which will be a wonderful event reminding us all why we are running on Monday along with some team motivation.  I will also be taking the next two days to mentally prepare myself for Monday and reflect on the stories that have been shared with me that have inspired me to fundraise/train even harder for this cause. 

"That's the thing about running:  your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success.  They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is."

-Kara Goucher (one of the elite American runners who will be racing on Monday)

She couldn't have said it better.  My last few long training runs have brought tears to my eyes as I realize how blessed I am to have the support of all of you and how passionate the people in my life are about making the world a better place.  It saddens me that so many people in my life have been affected by cancer in a negative way, but I have great hope for the future as medical advances continue that more of these stories will become positive ones.

For those who still wish to contribute, simply click here to be taken directly to my fundraising page.  The donation process does not take long at all. :)

I don't think I can thank all of you enough for the difference you have made in benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to directly fund innovative cancer research!

-S

Heartbreak Hill

For weeks people have been asking me if I am ready for the marathon and the infamous Heartbreak Hill- today I finally feel like I can answer this question confidently with a yes.  Yesterday marked my last long training run and I decided it was finally time to see what the hype about Heartbreak Hill was all about.  I ran out on the marathon course down Heartbreak Hill and the other Newton rolling hills realizing I was clearly descending most of the way and would have to turn around to ascend to get myself back home.  On the return trip I reached Heartbreak Hill at about mile 10 and found myself wondering if that was really the dreaded hill because quite frankly it didn't seem so bad.  Perhaps its because I spent most of the last few years running the hills of Tennessee- running up the dreaded Demonbreun hill frequently with my fellow Nashville runners, as well as trail running at the Warner Parks in which "hilly" is an understatement.  While I may feel differently about Heartbreak Hill when I reach it at mile 20 a week from Monday, I am feeling confident that there will be no heartbreak for me at that point in the race.  People tell me the rolling hills of the Boston Marathon are tough- I ask if they have run the hills of Tennessee recently...

As the race gets closer, I find myself getting more and more emotional about it.  9 days to go and just the thought of crossing that finish line brings a few tears to my eyes.  I have run other marathons, but this one proves to be the most meaningful.  Embarking on this journey, I never imagined the emotional impact this would have on me.  I have had many people share their stories with me and witnessed others fighting their own battles with cancer- it has brought on the urge to raise even more money so that we can see more success stories for those battling cancer.  The thoughts of all of your loved ones stories help me through when the going gets tough with long training runs and remind me why I am out pounding the pavement.  The temporary struggle and pain I battle with during a run is nothing compared to the battle others are fighting with cancer- this pushes me harder than ever before.  I hope that with my training and fundraising, I can ease the difficulty of the battles people fight with cancer every day as a part of a team much larger than just myself.  The $3,700 you have all helped me raise so far to benefit innovative cancer research is remarkable.  While it may seem like a small drop in the bucket, it is the collaborative effort of something much greater than that.  Since 1990, the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team has raised more than $56 million to directly fund the Barr Program.  Our team as a whole this year has a fundraising goal of $4.6 million.  Every single donation makes a difference in taking strides to a world without cancer.

Thank you to all of you who have donated, supported me, run with me and prayed for this cause as race day nears- all of you have made a significant impact!

To those who have not donated yet who would like to, the process is quick and easy!  Simply click here to open my personal fundraising page with Dana-Farber and follow the instructions.  :)

Enjoy the weekend!

-S

16 Days to Go!

Today as I was standing in line to purchase a Gatorade following one of my last long training runs, I heard someone behind me ask if I was running the marathon for the Dana-Farber team.  Before I could respond with anything further than a "yes", she shook my hand and held it while telling me "I can't thank you all enough for what you do.  I was treated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute last year and they saved my life."  Taken aback by the gratefulness of this woman, I realized that this run and money raised to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute truly do reach out to more people than can be imagined.  The woman continued to tell me her story of her battle with breast cancer and how she has been cancer free for 6 months now.  She pulled out a picture of her grandson and bragged to me about him taking his first steps just a few weeks ago and how blessed she was to be here today to experience it.  She asked for my bib number so that she could follow me on race day and cheer me on.  It brought tears to my eyes to hear her story and I am so honored to be able to run proudly wearing the Dana-Farber logo on Marathon Monday.  Every donation truly does make a difference in someone's life- we just may not always hear about it.  I am blessed to have been able to hear the story of someone directly affected in a positive way by the organization I am running for and have extra motivation knowing that she is cheering me on every step of the way in 2 weeks.  

On the fundraising front: we have reached $3,200 in donations!  Thank you all for being so generous and donating to such a worthy cause!  I definitely think we can get to at least $4,000 by race day on April 15.  I am grateful to have the support of all of you!!  Together we are making a large impact in fighting the battle against all types of cancer.

My training has been going well.  Last weekend I ran 22 miles and have begun to taper off until race day (2 weeks from Monday!).  Today I put in 16 miles and was able to run in shorts as the weather is in the mid 50's!  I am definitely excited about the warmer weather coming around.  :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend and is able to spend it with family and friends!  Stay tuned for more frequent updates as Marathon Monday approaches!!

-S

Make a Difference. Make a Donation.

My friend Amanda wrote the following for the blog and I wanted to share it with you all :)  Her and I have been through many of life's battles together throughout the years, along with quite a few laughs and ridiculous moments.  I am blessed to have so many amazing friends who are taking the time to support such an amazing cause!  Love you all!

I never understood running. Cardio is not my cup of tea, cardio does not do my body good and cardio usually makes me cramp in muscles I didn’t even know I had. However, to others running is their feel good, their drug. To these people, I call them crazy. Strait-jacket crazy, that is.

I wish I had the passion to run. I wish I had even the slightest interest in running 26 some miles, or even one mile for that matter. But, that’s where Sarah comes in. She has the passion, the dedication and the talent to run like a damned fool for 26.2 miles. The best part? She isn’t doing it for herself. She is doing it to help fund research for a disease that develops daily within innocent people. To help those whose lives have directly and indirectly been affected by that awful word. To find an answer. To find a cure.

Cancer has made its Oscar winning performance a few too many times in my life.

Vince and I met at the YMCA lifeguarding when I was a wee-tyke. He is a couple years older than me, but we clicked. At first, Vince was my crush. I oogled at him and drooled as any 15 year old girl would do. It wouldn’t take long for me to discover that Vince would become a lifelong friend. The friend that tells how it is, the friend that will punch you in the arm for being a girl, the one that will say the guy you are dating isn’t good enough for you and the friend that despite anything happening in their life, they are never too busy to listen.

In the end of December, Vince was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery in the middle of January to have masses removed and a few weeks later would find out the cancer had spread into his blood and lungs. Doctors started aggressive chemo treatments pretty quickly after discovering the severity of his cancer.

I don’t fear the outcome with Vince. I know he will make it through this battle, but it will be just that, a battle. To him, this is road bump in life. I’m a little more dramatic about it, because for starters I am a female, but also because I consider Vince to be a part of my family. Things like this aren’t planned. There is a plan once they do happen, but even then, nothing is concrete. I wish he didn’t have to go through this, I wish he could continue his everyday life as if he was a twenty-some-year-old man. But, he needs to be careful of what foods he eats, who he comes into contact with and how active his body allows him to be. He doesn’t view his diagnosis and treatment as anything more than that. It is something to beat, something to hurdle and then life will go back to normal. His positivity shines through and I know he will show cancer that nothing can bring him down.

However, about 9 years prior to this, my life would have its first introduction to the world of cancer.

The man I will forever look up to was taken from us just 3 months after being diagnosed with cancer. My Grandpa was one of the first men I would love (next to my father, of course). He taught me how to golf, how to say please and thank you, how to forgive, how to pray to God, how to be a girl, how to mow a lawn, how to dream but most importantly, he taught me how to love. We all know the relationship a Grandpa has with his first granddaughter. The bond is unbreakable and the love is unconditional. He couldn’t tell me no, but he sure would try. 

Cancer broke a bond that I will never be able to relive, a once in a lifetime love and a forever friendship that was taken far too soon. Speaking of my Grandpa will forever bring tears to my eyes and knowing his voice only remains in my memories is not my ideal situation—but I have been blessed with some of my memorable life moments because of this man. That in itself is pretty priceless.

Enough of my life.

Running in the Boston Marathon to any normal person is quite the opportunity. Obviously, to Sarah, it means a lot. But, knowing Sarah for all the years I have, her true determination for running this marathon and raising the money for cancer research is in her big heart to do things for others. In her selfless personality to give back. Since I’ve known this girl, she’s wants nothing more than to make a difference in the lives of others. She may enjoy to run (which is where we will always differ), but not as much as she loves to help people.

Every donation gives cancer less of a chance. Every donation puts research one step closer to a cure. Every donation makes a difference. Every. Single. Donation.

Please, take the time to help this (crazy) girl reach her goal and help cancer research find a cure.

Thank you again, Amanda, for writing this- and I ask all of you to please consider making a donation to day to bring us closer to a cure and a better future for others.  Thanks for your support!

-S

4 Weeks to Go!!

There are 4 weeks until Marathon Monday- time has been flying by!  I am so amazed and touched by the generosity of all of you who have donated to this wonderful cause.  We have raised $2,401 so far and more donations are on their way in.  Thank you all again- together we can make strides towards improving the lives of those battling cancer and find a cure. :)

I struggled a bit with what to write about for this post.  We have heard from many different people regarding their experiences with cancer throughout this blog and I am so grateful for all of those who were willing to share their story.   All of them have inspired me to push harder with my fundraising and strive to raise as much money as possible to support innovative cancer research.  I hope that all these stories have inspired you in some way as well- whether it be to donate towards the cause or to simply reach out your hand to someone in need. 

Lately, “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath has been a source of inspiration for me as I continue on this journey.   The song tells the stories of multiple people who are fighting their own battles under the surface, but cover it up behind a smile.  When I hear this song it reminds me to take a step back and open my heart up to those around me because we never truly know what everyone around us is going through in their lives.  As you go through your day today, remember that a small act of kindness can go a long way in making someone else’s day seem a little bit better.  

If you would like to read more about the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge and the program it supports, visit this link:  Click Here

I ask each of you who haven’t made a donation yet to consider making a donation to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  As Warren Buffet says, ““Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”- Consider your donation to be the tree for someone battling with cancer in the future.  While it may not benefit you directly right at this very moment, it could save your life or the life of a loved one down the road. 

Click here to make a donation!

Thank you all again so much for your support!  Keep checking back for more updates as we get closer to race day!

-S

Words from a DFCI Researcher

My name is Leah and I've been friends with Sarah since we met in Mr. Johnson's 9th grade science class at Blaine High School. And in a coincidental way, science brought us both to Boston. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Harvard University, and my research lab happens to be at Dana Farber Cancer Institute - Sarah's charity organization.

In the previous posts, Sarah and her friends and family have outlined the reasons why supporting cancer research is incredibly important; here, hopefully I can provide some insight as to why Dana Farber, in particular, is worthy of your generous gifts.

- DFCI is not only a clinic where patients receive treatment - it is also is a world class cancer research institute where many significant cancer related discoveries have occurred. Sydney Farber, the founder of the institution was one of the first physicians to use chemotherapy in treatment of childhood cancers and he is often cited as the "the father of modern chemotherapy". More recently, DFCI has pioneered the use of cancer genome sequencing to identify genetics mutations in cancerous cells, discovered one of the first "targeted" cancer therapies (imatinab for use in melanoma) and have even found a potential male contraceptive drug ( a derivative ofJQ1 - google, it it's pretty cool!).

- DFCI is also a space where cancer researchers, cancer physicians, support staff and patients come together for care. My lab is composed of a mix of scientific postdocs, grad students, medical students as well as oncology fellows and residents. The physicians' intimate knowledge of the current barriers to cancer treatments combined with the knowledge of basic and applied science from the researchers allows for the seamless discussion between the two fields and allows for expedited improvements in cancer treatments. For instance, the primary goal of my lab is to determine how cells decide to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death), with particular emphasis on identifying the mechanisms by which cancer cells evade this process. We focus on the Bcl-2 family of proteins, whose interactions are important in the decision making process of whether the cell undergoes apoptosis. Previously, our lab developed a tool called “BH3 profiling” which measures the propensity for apoptosis. Using primary cancer samples, we showed that the BH3 profiling technique is correlated with patient response to conventional chemotherapy. Currently, my work explores the use of the BH3 profiling to predict response to targeted therapies specific for the anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The laboratory goal is to demonstrate the ability to prospectively identify AML patients who will respond to this type of therapy. The clinical goal is to use this tool to guide clinical decision-making and personalize therapy in leukemia.

A lot of the money that funds our lab and many of the labs at DFCI rely on government funding to support our research. During these tough economic times for our federal government, your generous donations are even more appreciated!!!

Thank you for taking the time to write this, Leah, as well as give donors a chance to see some of the wonderful things their donations go towards! 

Good news on the fundraising front- we have reached $2,000!! Let's keep the momentum going :) Thanks to everyone who has donated and helped support this amazing cause! Let's get to $4,000 before race day- it is just 6 weeks away! Thank you again!

-S

Reach Out Your Hand

I am so blessed to have the support of all of you as I continue on this journey to make a difference in people's lives via the marathon. I would like to share with you words of inspiration and motivation I have received in the last couple weeks from some very dear friends of mine.

The following comes from one of the most selfless people I know. I met Jan and her husband through the Nashville Predators organization and was friends with their son while I was in Nashville for graduate school. They quickly became my "Nashville parents" and were there for me through many things. They even took me in the week before my boards exam last summer- I got spoiled with home cooked meals, a big cozy bed and a chance to bond even more with them before I moved on to Boston just a few weeks later. Thank you so much for all you have done for me, Jan, as well as sharing the following!

Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. ~Norman B. Rice

There is no way to describe what a mother or father go thru when they first learn their precious child has been diagnosed with cancer and are told that children with this type of tumor “just don’t live.” Knowing there is nothing you can do to fix the situation is truly overwhelming. You suddenly find yourself turning to others to help get you through the period when you feel numb and helpless. Once the journey comes to an end, you find yourself reaching out to others because you know that you are one of the few people who truly understand what they are going through. We all do this in different ways and with different levels of intensity based on what we’re capable of doing/giving. To know there are folks willing to run in a marathon, make a meal or send a card, truly helps those in darkness reach for the light. Thank you Sarah, for seeing the need and offering your hand. Love, Jan

Another person who has shared a few words with me recently is a family friend from my childhood. Our families often coincided at sporting events and his beautiful wife Janette is greatly missed to this day! She always had a smile on her face and was wonderful to be around. 

Thanks Sarah for thinking of Janette. She was an inspiration to her kids and so many young people. When I started running, after Janette passed away, I knew she wanted that for me. Janette's story is one of giving to her family and friends. Even in her last days she worried about us and was such an inspiration! She never complained about the pain during her illness. As you run please know she is with you each and every step, as she is with me when I run! When that last mile of a "long run" gets unbearable she will show you the way! This means so much to me to share this with you!!

Thank you, Tom, for sharing those meaningful words.  I will definitely keep Janette in mind when the going gets tough on those long runs!

Every step of this journey, I have people like Jan and Tom in my mind. They are both amazingly strong people who have persevered through the battle of a losing a loved one to cancer and continue to have such wonderful giving hearts. They are an inspiration to all of us for how to live our lives and become better people.

To this day, we have raised $1,806 to go towards funding innovative cancer research. Thank you to the people who have donated so far! And to those who haven't please consider helping us get closer to the cure for cancer. I would love to be sharing more success stories such as Kristin's shared earlier in the blog. I truly believe that together we can make a big difference.

I'll leave you with this... "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." -Margaret Mead

Have a wonderful week!

-S