Above: One Southborough runner is part of a five person team honoring the memory of Devin Saua. (images L-R image from a fundraising page for the team and Devin with his mother)
Southborough has always had an impressive showing at the Boston Marathon, and this year is no exception. Between now and Patriots Day, I’m featuring stories of resident runners donning bibs for a cause.
Many of you may remember Devin Saua, a young Framingham boy who lost his fight with cancer in October 2017. His family and friends are continuing the fight. One Southborough runner, Danielle Goodwin, is part of the WhyNotDevin 2019 Boston Marathon team.
A fundraising page for the team explains their cause:
At six-years-old, after falling off his snowboard in January 2017 and seeing a doctor about a possible concussion, he was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). DIPG is a rare pediatric cancer that is aggressive and unforgiving. The tumor is located in the brain stem, and tragically, because of its location, it is inoperable and has no known cure. Devin’s family was told he had somewhere between 8 months to 2 years to live.
The news was crippling to Devin’s family, but they knew, someone would have to be the first to beat DIPG– Why not Devin!
Devin was the youngest of four brothers in an amazing family in Framingham, MA. They loved each other in a way that was inspiring to anyone they met. At six-years-old, Devin was one of the funniest, most fun-loving, athletic kids you could meet. He could light up a room with his contagious laugh and brighten your day with his amazing smile and quick wit. Devin was amazing.
On October 20, 2017 – nine months after his DIPG diagnosis, and just one week before what would have been his 7th birthday, Devin lost his battle with DIPG. The world lost a superhero, and a family lost their anchor. . .
DIPG, because of its rarity, gets very little to zero funding, research, or backing from the medical community. That has to change!
This year we have an official Boston Marathon Team. Five people running 26.2 miles to help raise money for this horrible disease. Life is supposed to be a marathon. Devin and other children with DIPG only get to sprint.
Please help our team meet our goal!!
On Facebook, Goodwin posted:
I’m so HONORED, HUMBLED, and HOPEFUL to be Running the 2019 Boston Marathon in honor of my dear friend Christine Soutter Suau’s son, Devin (who at 6 years old, fought the biggest battle of his life against DIPG) as a part of the WhyNotDevin Foundation The Boston Marathon means so much to me and my family, and a MORE PERFECT reason to RUN, couldn’t have found ME! I train and I will run in Devin’s honor, who taught me to be BRAVE, to be STRONG, and to be KIND. On these long long loooooonnngggg training runs when my thoughts drift back to the day 6 years ago, it’s Devin’s spirit who brings me back from the Evil, to see the GOOD of the day, to see the HUMANITY, the KINDNESS, and the BRAVERY of our CITY
To date, Pediatric Brain Tumor researcher is severely under-funded. In such a short amount of time, through spreading awareness and Devin’s story, Devin’s army advanced Pediatric Cancer research by 10 years!!!! TEN!!!!! As we continue to honor Devin and his spirit, the #whynotdevin Foundation, directly helps families of children diagnosed with the incurable pediatric brain cancer DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). No family should have to hear the words spoken about their child: “it’s a rare brain tumor with a 0% chance of survival. If you’re hopeful, you have 9 months to 2 years” EVERY child should have a chance to [grow] up.
She asked me to share the following fundraiser information with readers:
Any amount is greatly appreciated and goes directly to helping families with children with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an incurable pediatric brain cancer. #devinsarmy #letsendDIPG #findacure #bostonmarathon
💙💛
Venmo — https://venmo.com/WhyNotDevinFoundationPayPal — https://www.paypal.me./WNDFoundation
Checks to #whynotdevin @ PO Box 755, Framingham, MA 01701.
[If you’re running the Boston Marathon and would like to have your story featured, drop me a line at mysouthborough@gmail.com]
