2023 PMC

It’s my 8th year as a part of this powerful group of people who hate cancer as much as I do and are committed to fundraising money to help Dana Farber find more and better treatments for cancer. Last year we fundraised $788,356.04 as a team and PMC donated $69 million. Consider this food for thought: every dollar donated is a dollar for cancer research that didn't exist before. Every dollar matters.

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Maybe you knew Becky. If you didn't, I'm sure you have a story of someone you hold dear to your heart--a family member, friend, coworker, someone--who has fought cancer. Maybe they are still here and still fighting. Maybe they have passed and we are left to fight in their honor and memory. Becky is one of those people for me.

Becky and I met in 10th grade band, which was in 1997. We both played the flute. We became good friends, especially in 11th grade when we both auditioned for the higher band and were two of the few juniors in the mostly senior band. We continued our friendship right into college. I transferred to University of Washington and she was at Seattle Pacific. I had a car at school, so we saw each other regularly. We both were double majoring and working and generally being over achievers. When I moved to the East coast, we continued our friendship. Time differences and work schedules meant that sometimes we just exchanged LONG voicemails as a means of conversation. I regularly would walk to work in the morning and listen to a 10-15 minute long voicemail from overnight. We supported each other through grad schools, dating, new jobs, learning to be a grown up, disagreements with friends and family, and finally finding life partners and starting our own families.

Becky was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2012 shortly after she married the love of her life, Nathan. She fought and was declared cancer free and they were encouraged to pursue their dream—a child. They had a little miracle of a boy in 2014, and he is a bundle of smiles and joy. Shortly after he was born, Becky started to have some health problems, and she found out that her original cancer had metastasized. They fought—together and with lot of support from friends and family.

While ultimately cancer took Becky’s life in July 2015, she has left a legacy of love, passion, and fight. She lives on through her husband, son, and the many friends who loved her. Her birthday is on Random Act of Kindness Day, and we have honored her by doing random acts of kindness the past two years. #spreadjoy

And yet cancer sucks. I want her son to grow up knowing his mom through our memories, but also in a world where moms like his don’t die from cancer. Where there’s a cure. So that’s why I am part of PMC.

I’d be blessed if you would consider donating. Because #cancersucks.

In honor/memory of the many others in my life touched by cancer, some still with us and some not… LJ, ES, MR, SS, RM, GM, DW, PM, BP, VW, and too many more to name.