Hello Family and Friends,

Thank you to everyone who donated to Imerman Angels for my half marathon run! I've been inspired to continue spreading the I.A message and will be running the Chicago marathon October 11th. 

I will briefly tell you how my interests for Imerman Angels came about. As many of you know, I moved to Chicago to pursue both personal and professional goals. Since November, I have been working as a nurse for the Cancer Skin Care Program at Northwestern. Our mission is to research and develop management strategies for skin conditions in cancer patients or those that arise as a result of anticancer therapies. In particular, the newly introduced targeted therapies result in distinctive dermatological side effects that may affect quality of life and in some cases result in treatment interruption or discontinuation. It is our job to make sure these skin toxicities are managed appropriately and that patients can live life as normally as possible. Through my clinical practice and research, I have had the opportunity to meet the most extraordinary patients. When Johnny Imerman mentioned there was one more spot on the half-marathon team, I grabbed the phone immediately to help join his inspirational cause.

Imerman Angels connects a person fighting cancer today ("cancer fighter") with someone who has beaten the same type of cancer ("cancer survivor"). The relationship provides a fighter the opportunity to ask personal questions and receive encouragement from someone who is uniquely familiar with the situation. The relationship provides a survivor the opportunity to personally help a fighter as he or she battles the disease.

I dedicate this run to my patients who inspire me everyday with their strength and spirit. I truly enjoy the work I do because of them. In addition, I’ll be running for my three grandmothers Virginia Calahan, Margaret Reynolds, and Frances Calahan who were all affected by breast cancer.

Thank you again!!!!