This is my run for....

my chauffer to skating practice every weekend morning for 9 years.

the driving teacher who gave me secret lessons before I had my permit.

the parent who always let me get strawberry frosted donuts for breakfast despite the other one's dissaproval.

the guy who would offered to take me on dry runs to Logan Airport just to make sure I knew how to get there safely. 

the person who called me hug bug.

This year, I am running the Boston Marathon in memory of my father who lost his battle to stomach cancer and in support of the amazing hospital that fought right alongside him: The MGH Cancer Center.  My family can say with complete confidence that MGH gave my father the most superb treatment possible.  More importantly every doctor and nurse has made us feel that, with each decision made, the best interest of our family was truly at heart. 

Losing my father to cancer less than a year after diagnosis was beyond difficult.  As an only child, I felt lost at the beginning of this fight against cancer until the day we walked into MGH.  Our team of doctors, nurses and clinical coordinators became like family... they cared about us as patients rather than just the cancer.  And that relationship hasn't stopped.  Julie, my dad's chemo nurse met me on Heartbreak Hill and ran the last 5 miles of the marathon with me and Dr. Zhu, our oncologist, called me on Christmas to say he missed my dad and that his thoughts were with me through my first Christmas without him.  This dedication to the patient partnered with worldclass cancer treatment is what MGH stands for.  They made it possible for me enjoy time with my mom and dad in our last year together.  

Please join me in supporting the MGH Cancer Center by donating to my 5th and most important Boston Marathon run in memory of my father.   With your help, I hope to raise $20,000 to help provide other families with the same outstanding care and compassion that the MGH Cancer Center gave us.  My dad died just 10 days before the marathon last year but all of the support from my friends and family helped me push through those 26 miles, knowing how much we raised to help MGH fight the battle against cancer.   With all of your help and support, I will cross the finish line again this year with the same feeling.

Love and thanks,

Elyse