In loving honor of Bill Pappas

I am running a half marathon in Newport Rhode Island on April 15th and I have pledged to raise $4,000 on behalf of Mass General Cancer Center in honor of my father, Bill Pappas who passed away September 28th, 2016 from bladder cancer. 

I will be forever grateful for my father and I will always dedicate my life to making him proud by living a fulfilled and happy life, and also by continuing to fight against the thing I HATE most in this world; Cancer.  My Dad and Mom spent hundreds of hours at Mass General in the last 8-10 years fighting a battle that my Dad so courageously endured.    My Dad always expressed extreme gratitude for the doctors, services that he received, and for Mass General as a whole.  I want to raise money for Mass General Cancer Center to support their commitment to eradicate cancer through scientific investigation and personalized cancer care which was so crucial to help my Dad stay with us for as long as he did.  I find assurance in knowing that this money will help other individuals and families who are going through a similar experience.

The words that have resonated with me the most during the last 8 months or so have been the serenity prayer which I know is used in many different scenarios, but is really helping me through this one:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

While I cannot change the inevitable, I can fight for what I believe in,   raise money, advocate for individuals and families with similar stories, cherish memories, laugh, love, run harder, and live the life that I know my Dad wanted for me.  

Please support me in honoring my Dad by donating to my fundraiser.  I am so fortunate to have so many loving and supportive friends and family in my life, and I certainly could not have gotten through the last many months without all of you by my side.