Above: Last year, Nancy Gould ran 26.2 miles in the rain to raise money for innovative cancer research. This year will be her 6th run in memory of her mother, and her 2nd time supporting a young patient partner. (images cropped from fundraising site and Facebook)
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.
On Friday, I shared the story of a Southborough runner on the Dana-Farber team, running for a personal cause. She’s not the only one.
Nancy Gould is again running for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It’s a traditional cause for Gould. In 2013, Gould shared that she was running in honor of her mother who died from cancer in 2005.
This year, for the 6th time, Gould will make the run to raise money for the institute. On her fundraising page this year, she explains that she’s running in memory and hope:
I have been lucky enough to run five marathons for Dana-Farber. If you could be at the group runs and the pasta dinners and hear the stories of how the funds that we raise by running the marathon makes research possible that has saved lives, you would run too!!!
My mother was the inspiration for my first marathon, and she continues to inspire me every day. She died of pancreatic cancer, as did her mother. As you might imagine, this was heartbreaking, but it is also terrifying.
I run because I would like to be a grandmother.
I run because I want my kids to be able to grow old and wrinkly.
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of every dollar raised by the DFMC team supports the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute!!!! These funds are fueling some of today’s most promising basic cancer research.
Thank you for your support! Together, we’re headed toward the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.
On Facebook, Gould shared that for the second year, she is inspired by her “patient partner Malia”:
After battling a neuroblastoma at two and a half, she has had NED (No Evidence of Disease) for 7 years now! She is spunky, loves to travel, and has the best laugh. I am so proud to be raising funds for Dana-Farber to help save lives like hers.
To support Gould’s fundraising run, click here.
[If you’re running the Boston Marathon and would like to have your story featured, drop me a line at mysouthborough@gmail.com]
