TCS New York City Marathon

I Am Making A Difference with My Miles!

Hi! Me again….I’m back with National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Team Teal to run the 2024 NYC marathon in honor of my lifelong best friend, Becky, whom we lost 4 days before Christmas in 2021, after knowing she had ovarian cancer for less than a week, at age 42. 

Why NYC again? If you knew Becky, you knew she loved a familiar routine. :) 

The last two years have been filled with the ups and downs of grief. I ran in 2022 to cope with the initial shock and raw emotions of losing “my person.” This year, I run with gratitude for our friendship and to contribute to the advances of early detection with the money raised by your generous contributions. My daughters will also make the trip to see me cross the finish line in Central Park! The marathon is such a powerful and accurate metaphor for those living with profound grief. 

Becky’s mother (“Rita Mom”) and grandmother’s journeys with ovarian cancer sparked her interest in genetics and she chose a career path in genetic counseling. Therefore, NOCC’s mission stands for all the things Becky would support today if she could -  to save lives through the prevention and cure of ovarian cancer and to improve the quality of life for survivors and their caregivers.

Ovarian Cancer is a rare and aggressive cancer but is in the top 5 for cancer deaths among women. It is often found in advanced stages due to a lack of early detection, screening tools and vague or symptoms that are often misdiagnosed, which make effective treatment challenging, at best, and impossible, at worst. Funding from your donations brings hope for researchers to improve screening tools and enhance treatment options.

 There are so many things that remind me of Becky every day. Many are song lyrics that describe “us.” Two nights before I run the

 marathon, I’ll sing my heart out at the Taylor Swift concert in Indianapolis, especially when she plays “Marjorie.” Tell your people you love them. Make it weird. Becky would hate that! :) 

Marjorie:

And if I didn't know better

I'd think you were listening to me now

If I didn't know better

I'd think you were still around

What died didn't stay dead

What died didn't stay dead

You're alive, you're alive in my head

What died didn't stay dead

What died didn't stay dead

You're alive, so alive

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization under the IRS code. The Federal Tax ID number is 65-0628064. If your employer offers a matching gift, I would be grateful for the additional support! 

Will you please join me to help save lives by donating today?