Hello family and friends!  Welcome to my fundraising page.  I am running the Boston Marathon for the first time this spring on behalf of MassGeneral's CancerCare for Children.  I appreciate the moral support so many of you have given me, and would appreciate any financial support you can give as well.

When 2007 was ticking down into 2008, I said to myself, "It's time to do something bold." I wanted to accomplish something this year that required persistence, courage, discipline, confidence, resilience, mental and physical endurance, emotional control and divine guidance.  (After all, raising five children and beginning an executive coaching and leadership development practice don't keep me busy enough! :-) ) Then my sister-in-law's email about MGH having a few remaining spots on their marathon team came over the transom, and instinctively I knew this was it.  As someone who helps others make change for themselves and their organizations, I am trying to put my money where my mouth is by pushing my personal limits.

Then I met the MGH family that I was paired with: Trent Tucker, a two-year old with brain cancer, and his amazing parents, Dan and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker from Marblehead.  Quickly my focus shifted from a personal goal to a shared one.  Trent was rushed to the emergency room in January and administered last rights.  Thankfully, his brain tumor was operable and successfully removed.  He is now undergoing chemotherapy, but the prospects for his recovery are dicey.  Trent's mom is no stranger to challenges, having become a paraplegic twelve years ago.  Yet, she is a world-class athlete and is representing our country in sailing in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing!  Obviously, this special family has encountered more than their share of adversity, but the way they meet it is inspirational. 

It's a privilege to run for Trent and to raise money for the research and care teams at MGH, which consistently ranks in the top three hospitals in the nation.  My aim is to make this a marathon of thanksgiving, for Trent and his family, for their blessings and for mine.  I ask for your well wishes and prayers for the McKinnon-Tuckers and also for whatever financial contribution you can make.  Thank you!

Stéfane Cahill Farella

To learn more about MGH and their incredible work battling cancer, see http://www.mghgifts.org/marathon/.  To learn more about Trent and his family, see http://salemnews.com/punews/local_story_048224255.html.  To learn more about Maureen's quest for the gold, see http://sailchallengeinspire.org/.

Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to my fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!