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T-Minus 12 DaysT- Minus 45 Days…
That’s right we are down to days.  And I am sick as a dog missing the most important week of IRONMAN training.  But Vegas was worth it ;)Thank you to those of you who have stood up and made a donation to Dana Farber.  The list is short but you believe, and thank you for that.
Regarding donations if you were wishing for the $100 Ribbon or the $250 Screen-print, I need your donation by Friday please.
I wanted to keep this weeks email simple.  I am upset that my fundraising has been for the most part a bust.  I don’t set goals to not accomplish them.  So I wanted to relate to you what Dana Farber does and the effect Dana Farber has on the lives of those who battle.
Please read the below correspondences from mother’s who I had the honor of sitting with last year at our annual pasta party on Marathon Eve. 
www.JohnnyMarathon.com
Hi John,It was so good to see you this weekend and to celebrate with you on Monday! Thanks again for all your hard work for DFMC.As you know, you were sat randomly with two of our In-Memory families at the Pasta Party this year. Both of these families continue to blog on their websites that were originally created to update family & friends on their children's health. They both wrote such nice posts aboutMarathon Weekend and mentioned you, so I thought I'd share them with you (see attached). They obviously were very appreciative that you stopped at Mile 25 and were so kind to them during the Pasta Party, which was a difficult night for both families. I just wanted to thank you personally for being an exemplary member of the DFMC team and showing them such kindness - it means a lot!Also - as you'll see - in Red Sox nation, the ribbing will never stop for wearing that ring. :) :) 

Thanks again - good luck with everything! 
MeghanMeghan McGovern 
Development Officer, Marathon and Running Programs 
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 
10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor 
Brookline, MA 02445 
Tel: (617) 632-6618 
Fax: (617) 632-1969

Update from Kristina, Mary’s mom:

2011 Boston Marathon

Posted 1 day agoWe attended the Pasta Party for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team on Sunday night. It was so great that we got to sit with Mary's runner, Perry, of course. But we also sat with our friends the Dubucs and Matty's runner Steve and his family. DF also sat a random single runner (John from NY) with us. Sandy and I were joking that I bet he felt nice and comfortable during the In Memory Program. Poor guy!I had so much anxiety when the In Memory slideshow started that I literally had a hard time breathing. I am sure I was a sight to see with Perry rubbing my back and poor Katie rubbing the back of my head. It definitely didn't help that Matty and Mary were one right after the other. It was like a big punch and then another HUGE punch when you are already down.I do love that they played "Don't Stop Believing" (Matty's song) TWICE at the party!It was also great to meet my friend Karen's husband, Brian, who also ran for Mary!The pasta pasta was a tough night but Marathon day was MUCH better!It was great to hang with the Dubucs again. Perry and Steve were so close in time too, so that was kind of cool. In the midst of all the runners, John (the random diner from the night before) stopped and gave me a hug and a kiss. It was so sweet and I am sure was a result of my breakdown at the table the night before. As the poor guy tried to speed away - he CRAMPED! Something fierce! We all thought that he was going to topple over but luckily he was able to hobble over to people along the way. He stopped for a few minutes and then continued on his way. GO JOHN!Perry was running at an amazing pace once again! I am so proud of her. She moved to CA and didn't get to train with any of the team. She is in the midst of planning a wedding in the fall and still finished just over 4 hours!!! I am in awe of anyone that finishes PERIOD! Perry and I had a moment when she hit the DF cheering section. It seemed like forever to me but I am sure it was just a short time. Sandy said it seemed like the crowd went silent. I love it! In respect for my baby!!!Matty's runner, Steve, followed shortly. He said he was tired but he looked great!!! They did a great balloon release of blue DF balloons to Matty! I secretly hope he shared with Mary! HAHA!!!It was so hard to be there and not have Mary. I am sure she was there, but not in the way that I wanted her. Not in the way I needed her.Congrats to all the Dana Farber runners! Thank you for raising money for a cure so that cheering section will one day be empty and DF will be a memory that our grandkids ask us about!
Update from Sandy, Matty’s mom:

Marathon weekend, for us, started at the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge pasta party. Here, all the runners gather for a pasta dinner with their families and patient matches or the families of the 'in memory' matches.

We sat with Steve, his brother, his cousin, Kristina's family and Mary's runner, Perry. We had one seat open and this poor runner from NY who was alone, was seated at our table. I say "poor runner" because he hadn't a clue that he was sitting with some "in memory" families.

Needless to say, he realized it early on. The "in memory" slideshow was so incredibly painful - Matty and Mary back to back - that we decided that we can never do another Dana Farber pasta party. Even though this wasn't our first "in memory" slideshow and I knew what to expect, for some reason this year hurt the most.

But I am happy to report that Marathon Monday was so much better. We stood at the Mile 25 mark, which is also the Dana Farber cheering section.

It was a very emotional moment for Kristina and Mary's runner, Perry. This was Perry's 5th Boston Marathon running for Dana Farber, all of them running for Mary, but this year, Mary wasn't waiting at mile 25 to hug Perry!

Steve came by just minutes behind Perry and I loved being able to recognize him from so far away because of his 'attire'. He was decked in "Matty blue" and had Matty's beautiful face on his singlet!! I couldn't wait to hug him!

The night before, at the pasta party, I asked Steve if he would be ok with doing a balloon release with the boys, for Matty. He was happy to do it.

So, Steve, Chris and Zach sent blue Dana Farber balloons high to the sky! Then Steve was on his way to finish the last 1.2 miles!

I also want to give a shout out to Mike Doherty, who also runs for Dana Farber, who wore Matty's picture on his back. I saw Mike and called him over for a hug and it wasn't until he was running away that he asked if I saw Matty's picture on his back. I had no idea so I was thrilled to have been given the chance to hug him. Thanks Mike!!!

And congrats to our good friend, Tom (Tipa) Golden, who ran his first Boston Marathon. We waited for him at mile 25 before heading back to the hotel to see Steve. Way to go, Tipa!

Some highlights for us on Marathon weekend included hearing "Don't Stop Believing" as we started the car to leave the pasta party. It was the 4th time I had heard it on Sunday but just the timing of that one, was perfect. Also, Steve heard it right as he crossed the finish line, which was really cool!

That "poor runner" from NY that I mentioned who sat at our table, saw us cheering and ran over to give Kristina a hug, which was very sweet, and as he turned to run back, he cramped up. It looked so painful and I could literally see the muscle tightening. It was only for a few minutes and then he was off running again. I told Kristina that Matty did that because he wore his NY world series sized ring to the pasta party the night before. We all know how Matty is a HUGE Boston Red Sox fan. He shows no mercy, obviously! But no doubt, it was really thoughtful of him to stop to give Kristina a hug!

As Greater Lowell runners ran by, I shouted out "Do it for Phil (Riley)" and so many of them recognized my shout out and gave me the thumbs up or a big smile!

I also want to acknowledge that Marathon Monday marked 5 year's in remission for Hunter Donigan. It was great to be with them during the marathon. Way to go, Hunter!

Thank you to the people that sent me messages saying how Steve had just passed where they were standing, being easily recognized by wearing Matty's picture on his shirt! It was great to hear how many people saw Matty!

I am also very happy to report that I didn't once get caught up in the marathon runner's high of wanting to run it again! Nothing will ever compare to the day I ran for my son, my hero, my Matty boy!

Steve, thank you for honoring Matty in a 26.2 mile way. I know how huge of an honor that is. We truly appreciate it!!

For the Matty’s and Mary’s and all those others that are battling and that we have lost…www.JohnnyMarathon.com
Thank you,JohnnyMarathon