I want to take a moment to share with you one of the reasons why I am passionate about and participating for the second time in the #PMC2025.

My Cousin Susan Rebello Black passed away from stage 4, Neuroendocrine carcinoma, colon cancer at the age of 49. She was a compassionate, loving, faithful, charismatic, mother, wife, daughter, niece, and cousin.

There is no doubt in my mind that the day she left this earth there was a little less sparkle. If you met her you would never forget her kind and funny personality, along with her beauty both inside and out. Her and her two daughters, Nelle & Isabella, along with her husband lived in Kansas. She was a Tiverton RI native who attended Dominican Academy, Bishop Connolly High School and later a graduate of Boston College. She found out about her diagnosis in December of 2018 and after numerous treatments and trials lost her heroic battle on 9/3/2019. She passed away in California as she was setting her oldest daughter up for her first year of college. She did not want her cancer diagnosis to overshadow her daughter’s hopes and dreams. I’ll never forget the last time I spoke with her. She was unbelievably positive and hopeful. “ I still believe a miracle can happen” she told me. So I ask you all to consider donating to this incredible cause and possibly be the miracle for someone else.

I hope this helps spread important awareness and gives you an understanding of why your donation is so critical.

Dana-Farber's sole focus has been to provide expert cancer care and groundbreaking treatments for adult and pediatric patients.

Let’s eradicate this world of cancer together!