In March of 2009 my daughter Catrina entered my bedroom one Saturday evening complaining of a stomach ache. I initially attributed it too much birthday candy (she had just turned four) and comforted her in bed that night. My wife and I grew slightly concerned Sunday when Catrina's stomach ache persisted. A call to our pediatrician that day led to an appointment on Monday which included an x-ray as a precaution. While initially deemed as normal, a follow-up ultrasound was scheduled for Tuesday morning which my wife Jeri covered on her own with Cat. I'll never forget the call I received at work from Jeri after the appointment--we needed to take Catrina to the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana Farber, and we needed to go there now.

Catrina was sugsequently diagnosed with Wilms Tumor, a rare childhood cancer of the kidney. The treatment of Wilms tumor is one of the great success stories in childhood cancer. Thanks in part to therapeutic advances assessed in clinical trials, the 5-year survival rate for children diagnosed with Wilms Tumor in the United States increased from approximately 70% in the 1970s to 92% today. Catrina herself endured a clinical trial lasting eight months and involving surgery, radiation and five different types of chemotherapy. This month she turned 11 years-old and remains cancer-free.

Catrina is living proof of the impact you can have in donating to life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana Farber. Last year we raised over $13,000 for Dana Farber through my Boston Marathon run. This year I ask for your support as I ride the 160 miles from Wellsley to Provincetown as part of the Pan Mass Challenge. 100% of your donation will go towards the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  Please join me in making a difference and creating another living proof story of success against cancer.