"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they have been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It is an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It is a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing." ~Mohammad Ali
I always dreamt of the day I would be picking up my Boston Marathon Bib just as much as the Monday race day. I wondered who would be the person handing me the bib, what that person would say, his/her name, and how the place was set up. I wondered how I would feel.
To “Be your dreams” is the epitome of believing in yourself. It is the trust that everything will work out at the right time. It is living as if you already have it. It is living in gratitude and finding goodness in the things that symbolize your dream. For me, my dream(s) is running. The fact that I can run and that I get to run is living my dreams. If I had stopped running, it would take away all my chances of running the Boston Marathon.
My name is listed on the wall
On April 15, 2022, my dream manifested. It felt surreal, it was magical, and it was pure, and exciting. Nothing was more important then than being fully present with what was happening then. My husband was equally emotional as I was, for he knew how much it meant to me. As I approached the counter, John greeted me with a hi and a request to check my ID. As I watched him go through all the bibs on the box, reaching mine out and presenting it to me, I could not help but cry.
It took a few minutes for me to regroup and focus on the task at hand as John was presenting me with all the goodies that come with it – the signature long sleeve, course map, Sam Adams bottle opener, the 26.2 Boston sticker, and the unicorn sticker – all in the clear plastic bag.
27904 My Unicorn
There is moment alike. It was the moment I had been working so hard for it. A moment that invites me to toe-line at the Boston Marathon starting line where legends and many hardworking runners have set foot before me. Boston has always been in my heart, but now, I am officially part of Boston’s heart.
I could not have had this amazing experience if it was not for my husband’s kindness. I will be forever in debt to his love and kindness.
It is a true honor to be presented with the opportunity to run the 126th Boston Marathon as a charity runner for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. I will forever be grateful to the gentle soul and friend who has helped me to become a Boston Marathoner while helping over 436 cancer patients become the recipient of monetary grants that will help them go through the financial burdens that cancer treatment presents. You are my hero!
The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) is a registered non-profit organization committed to providing help, hope, and a reason to smile, for New England cancer patients and their families by contributing financial support when it is needed most.
JAF provides direct financial assistance through the distribution of grants and gift cards, which cover basic non-medical needs, including housing, food, transportation, and utilities, that patients and caregivers impacted by cancer often find themselves unable to afford. JAF recognizes the hidden costs of cancer that can negatively impact a cancer patient’s health outcome and strives to alleviate this financial stress.
HOW JAF MAKES A DIFFERENCE
JAF provides direct financial assistance through the distribution of grants and gift cards, which cover basic non-medical needs, including housing, food, transportation, and utilities, that patients and caregivers impacted by cancer often find themselves unable to afford.
FACTS in 2020…
JAF distributed more than $848,000 in direct financial assistance, impacting more than 3,100 people affected by cancer.
JAF provided additional support to over 280 patients and their family members through participation in (Up)Beat opportunities and patient navigation.
48% of the funding JAF provided through direct financial assistance was used to stabilize housing – helping with a mortgage, rental payments, and taxes.
Nearly half of distributed JAF grants helped patients and families who reported living on $25,000 or less – the amount an average family income can drop to following a cancer diagnosis.
JAF also believes that sometimes laughter can be the best medicine and aims to help families forget the burdens of treatment, if only for a day, through fun, laughter, and good times through their (Up)Beat outings.
WHAT IS THE HIDDEN COST OF CANCER OR “FINANCIAL TOXICITY”?
In addition to the physical impact, there is also a “hidden cost of cancer” that many people do not realize. Following a cancer diagnosis, many patients and their families face a dramatic decrease in household income because one adult must stop working or significantly reduce their hours to care for themselves or a loved one.
This loss of income, combined with a significant increase in out-of-pocket expenses related to treatment, creates a stressful situation for the family battling the disease. This economic distress is known as financial toxicity and can have a negative impact on a cancer patient’s health outcome.
42% of new cancer patients lose their entire life savings in two years because of treatment, losing $92,098 on average
62% of cancer patients are in debt because of their treatment, with 55% pf them owing at least $10,000
Cancer patients are 2.65x more likely to file for bankruptcy than non-cancer patients
Cancer patients who filed for bankruptcy had a 79% greater risk of death than patients who did not file for bankruptcy
JAF CONNECTS WITH PATIENTS
JAF partners with social workers and patient navigators at over 120 healthcare facilities throughout New England to identify patients who are experiencing financial distress to help them apply for assistance through the Foundation’s Financial Assistance Program, Pediatric Assistance Program, and Extraordinary Needs Fund, or Food Security Program.
My heart is so grateful for all the loving, messages, and generous donation I have received during this campaign. I can’t thank everyone enough!
LeftonBoylstonst blog was born out of my desire and relentless pursuit of one day the top of the mountain: the Boston Marathon. Its purpose was to document my journey and to keep myself accountable through this long process. It feels unreal that I am finally publishing the story of this dream and how it has come to life.
The day after running the Baystate Marathon in 2019, I had to see and feel the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I ran across it, stood by it, walked on it, and looked at it in awe. Little did I know that I would be training to officially cross it three years later.
My mantra in life has always been, “Never give up.” Embracing detachment while focusing on my goals and dreams has been a breakthrough that allowed me to enjoy and appreciate the process. After all, it is not about the destination but the journey itself, the challenges, and the people who join me.
Running the Boston Marathon is a BIG goal for me. It is personal. The opportunity to run the first virtual Boston Marathon last year allowed me to visualize and sense the excitement of the race from a greater perspective. As hard as it is to train for 26.2, I will always choose to do it and never count myself out. I continue to show up and do what I love without immediate expectations.
I’m honored to run the 126th Boston Marathon to raise money for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF). Words alone can’t express how grateful and privileged I feel for the opportunity to run the 126th Boston Marathon and run it for the New England area cancer patients and their families striving each day to beat cancer. The JAF is committed to providing help, hope, and a reason to smile for New England cancer patients and their families by contributing financial support when needed.
There is more to running than simply running to better ourselves. When we do something for others, we are the one who benefits the most.
I am beyond grateful for all your support. To my husband, Kurt, THANK YOU! Without you, this would not be possible. I look forward to meeting you at the finish line and graciously putting the Unicorn medal on you, as it is my tradition to always have you wearing the medal after every race. You’re my champion!
Join me or share the fundraising link in my profile. Together, we can run and create a kinder world!
LeftOnBoylstonSt 
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