Patrick Grace is fundraising
Support MSK in memory of Friends & Family lost to cancer
F Cancer!! This fundraiser is my personal effort to honor the memories of genuinely good people with wonderful hearts who, even before their battle... inspired us, made us smile, made life better. The "happy and the sad" is we all know people either lost to cancer or still fighting. Whether friends or family... they have touched our lives in meaningful ways. What can we do but remember them with love?
It's in their memories that we run this year, raising $$ for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where they continue to treat cancer patients while working to eradicate the horrific disease forever.
Please read the following about 4 people I knew and will never forget, and consider donating to our cause in their memory...
ROSIE
Rosie Galvez was a shining star that everyone gravitated toward. We both worked at the great Rock station 102.7 WNEW-FM, but not together. I honestly didn't even know Rosie until I met her at one of the alumni gatherings she organized... No one held the flag higher for our group of alumni friends than Rosie! When it came time to bring the crew back together again, I helped her organize the next one. She had a wonderful energy and spirit about her, and so much heart. It ended up being what kept her going. We had the opportunity to throw one last alumni hang for her with live music before she passed. She not only made it to the event but stayed to the end. So much heart, such resilience, and one last showing of love for Rosie who passed not long afterward. So for Rosie, and for all friends lost to or still fighting cancer, we raise funds for GSK cancer research and we RUN...
KEVIN & AUNT CAROL
Kevin Grace was like a brother to me. He was the cousin closest to my age and my Dad's twin brother. He was my daughter's Godfather and my good friend. He suffered for years with MS before being diagnosed with cancer. You would never know it from his attitude that anything was ever wrong. He approached every day as a gift and genuinely wanted to leave a room of people feeling better than they did before he entered it. Kevin was charming, selfless, funny, and oh-so sharp. We've run for Kevin for MS Research while alive and in memory. Now we remember what ultimately took him from us.
We lost Kevin's mother, my Aunt Carol, my Godmother, to cancer several years before. She was a force of nature, a true matriarch with a sharp and witty sense of humor. She was an amazing mother to cousins Kevin, Maryanne, Tim and Fran and wife to my Uncle Frank. I think about her often. For my cousin Kevin, my Aunt Carol, and for all families who have lost or have someone still fighting cancer, we raise funds for GSK cancer research and we RUN...
FRANK (Poppa)
We used to refer to my father-in-law Frank, as The Man. The Myth. The Legend. He was all of those things to our family; his wife, three daughters and husbands and nine grandchildren. Frank was the kind of person who elevated a room with his smile and charm, intelligence and intellect, kindness and deep, witty sense of humor. Frank was omni-present in our lives. He was always the first one you called for help or just for an answer to a question. He would always make himself available when you needed him and would often show up before you even know you needed the help! Frank was such a wonderful guy, as much a friend and mentor as father-in-law to me. He made everyone around him smarter, funnier...just better. Like my own Dad, he was loved by all. For Frank, and for all families who have lost or have someone still fighting cancer, we raise funds for GSK cancer research and we RUN...
My father is the reason for this fund. He was generous, selfless and kind. He was also an outdoorsman, so when he died from pulmonary fibrosis in December, 2013 we created "My Dad's Fresh Air fund" to raise $$ for charities in his memory through running outdoor races (like this year's Spartan races).
Since 2014, we have raised nearly $40k in memory of family we love and/or have lost to support meaningful charities (including American Lung, American Cancer, MSK, Tisch MS Foundation, United Hospice and LI Alzheimers). This year, as this horrific disease continues to touch so many lives, including my friend Rosie, we run again for Memorial Sloan Kettering.
After hitting the trail for the first 2 of the Spartan "Tri-fecta" again this year, our team of Mudd, Sweat & Beers is gearing up for Killington and our longest, most challenging day of the year!
The SPARTAN "Tri-fecta":
~ the Spartan Sprint! - Bethel, NY
(3+ miles of rugged terrain, 20+ obstacles) DONE!!
~ the Spartan Super!! - Palmerton, PA
(6+ miles of steep uphills, / 25+ obstacles) DONE!!
~ the Spartan BEAST!!! - Sat., 9/13; Killington, VT
(13+ miles of insane elevation / 30+ obstacles) TRAINING NOW!
We are raising funds through race day for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (link for info only - please donate through this gofundme page to help us hit our team goal), an organization devoted to ending cancer for life. With a mission to provide personalized, compassionate, and expert care, MSK is at the forefront of cancer research and treatment. Every contribution helps make a difference for patients battling this disease and their families.
Your support helps Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center make a difference by contributing towards efforts like:
- Providing state-of-the-art treatments and therapies that improve patient outcomes.
- Conducting groundbreaking research to enhance our understanding of cancer and develop new therapies.
- Training the next generation of scientists and clinicians dedicated to fighting cancer worldwide.
Every dollar you donate can create hope and make a lasting impact. Join me in supporting this vital cause to help those affected by cancer. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!
There are so many causes you can support. Thank you for choosing my Dad's Fresh Air Fund. It means so much to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to keep my Dad's loving, giving spirt...ALIVE!!
Cheers,
-Pat Grace
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