Dear Editor,
Thank you to the community for joining me for my 23rd year running the New York City Marathon, and raising funds for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). With your generosity, $7,435.60 was donated for my run of 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of New York City (NYC). Words cannot express how overwhelming it was to go way over my goal and imagine that we will be a part of helping to find more tolerable treatments and cures for this most horrible disease.
The marathon weekend started off exciting and memorable. Since I had completed 22 New York State Marathons, Tom and I were invited to the New York Road Runners Club reception for “Streakers & 15+”, at the Marathon Pavilion (former Tavern on the Green). I had been invited to be a delegate for the NYRR representing the “Streakers & 15+” at the opening ceremony’s parade on Friday evening. It was a great experience meeting representatives from all the countries and organizations.
On Saturday, Fred’s Team pre-race dinner was held at BJ Kings Restaurant. This year was the 20th anniversary of Fred’s Team. I had been asked to speak at the dinner. I have been a member since it began, and had many memories of how it all began and times when Grete Waitz was our captain. She was a nine-time winner of the NNYCMarathon and favorite of Fred Lebow. She passed away several years ago after a courageous battle against cancer.
I was more anxious about speaking to such a large and inspiring group than running the marathon. It was an honor and I just spoke from my heart about how my life has been changed by the opportunity to use my love of running in the NYC Marathon, to direct my sadness and anger that cancer has caused, to continue the fight for so many of my family and friends and patients I have cared for.
I wanted to share that over the years I have had so many people who generously donate and encourage me to continue running down cancer through Fred’s Team in the NYC Marathon. Fred’s Team has given me, and those who join me through their donations and support, such a positive and worthwhile way to honor and remember our loved ones who never lost their fight against cancer – because we are doing it for them.
I hope you will join me again for 2016 NYC Marathon and Fred’s Team/MSKCC for cancer research. Sincere thanks for your help to get me to the finish line reaching $7,435.60 for MSKCC research.
Sincerely,
Barbara Morrissey
Owego, N.Y.
