On Monday, April 18, three residents from Wayland will be running in the 115th Boston Marathon to help conquer cancer as members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team.

 

Team members include Lynda Nijensohn of Lewis Path, Marjory Kaplan of Dahlia Drive, and Mark Foreman of Three Ponds Road.  These runners, along with their 550 DFMC teammates from across the U.S. and around the world, will run the historic marathon route from Hopkinton to Boston with a goal to raise $4.5 million for cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  [Lynda Nijensohn (along with her kids) is featured in the May 2011 issue of Runner's World.]

 

Since its inception in 1990, the DFMC – one of the first charity organizations recognized by the Boston Athletic Association – has raised more than $47 million for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber.  This program funds basic research in its earliest stages, providing scientists with critical resources to test their innovative ideas.

 

Lynda has a very personal bond with Dana-Farber – both as a DFMC team member and patient.  She was diagnosed with Stage IIB breast cancer in September 2008 – a complete shock to this 34 year old mother of two young children with no family cancer history.  She was fortunate to have been treated at Dana-Farber, undergoing months of chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation.  She’s thrilled to be at the end of her treatments, and could not think of a better way to celebrate and thank the unbelievable physicians, nurses and staff at Dana Farber that essentially saved her life.

 

Marjory has also had personal experience with breast cancer.  She was diagnosed with DCIS 8 years ago, and after a mastectomy at Dana-Farber, thought she was out of the woods.  She began running to stay healthy and get her life back.  Then last year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the other breast.  It was a reminder of how random and frightening cancer can be.  Last year at this time, she had a second mastectomy.  This year, at 62, she is running her first marathon!  She hopes that by raising money for Dana Farber it will be another step in the race to end cancer for everyone forever.

 

Mark is running his first Boston Marathon in memory of his father, who lost his battle with lung cancer seven years ago.  He is also running in honor of aunts, uncles, cousins, and other family members and friends who have fought this brutal disease.  Running in recognition of their personal battles with cancer is an immense privilege for him.

 

To support them, go online at www.RunDFMC.org and select “Support a Runner”, or contact the DFMC at 617-632-1970 or by e-mail (dfmc@dfci.harvard.edu).  Wish them luck on the 18th!