Welcome to My Personal Page
Go Marlene!!!!!!
Welcome to my fundraising page for team "Go Marlene" which this year marks Marlene's 10th anniversary. As many of my friends and family know, I often run/walk to support worthy charities and causes, and on June 11 I'm going on a 1 mile walk to support the Bennett Cancer Center in support of my dear friend, Marlene Gatz. I try not to fundraise too often on Facebook, but Marlene is VERY VERY special to me. Let me briefly tell you her story:
Marlene was first diagnosed in 2005 with DCIS, breast cancer that is only in the ducts so it is not considered invasive. Before deciding on treatment, Marlene had gene testing and was found to be BRCA positive. She had a double mastectomy and because the breast cancer gene is also linked to ovarian cancer, she had an oophorectomy (her ovaries removed) the following year. For eight years Marlene continued to live her normal life, busy with 2 daughters and her husband. In December 2012, a month after her older daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, Marlene began to have back pain. She went to a chiropractor, a sports medicine masseuse, and finally an orthopedist who ordered an MRI. On January 21, 2013, Marlene's general practitioner called her after reviewing the results of her MRI. Marlene discovered she had compression fractures in her spine, probably due to tumors. The next day, after a full day of tests and doctor’s appointments, Marlene was told she had metastatic breast cancer. Besides her spine, she had lesions on her liver and lungs. Marlene started chemotherapy a couple of weeks later and had 6 sessions. Although she finished chemo in May 2013, Marlene has metastatic breast cancer and has continued treatment for the past nine years. Marlene goes to the Bennett Cancer Center every 3 weeks for an infusion of Herceptin which is targeted drug therapy for the kind of breast cancer she has, and also gets a monthly shot of another drug. Marlene has been so fortunate that there are so many drugs available to treat her cancer, and more are being discovered every year. Marlene has also been very lucky to have been treated at the Bennett Cancer Center. The doctors are great and the Bennett Cancer Center also offers many things that no other hospital in the area can offer. Because of the funds raised from Hope in Motion, patients undergoing the horrors of cancer treatment are offered so many services free of charge. These include massage therapy, reiki, reflexology for the mind. They offer personal training for the body after chemo to aid in patient’s recovery. And for those who are in need, free transportation to and from the hospital. Hope in Motion even raises money for those who are having financial difficulty. Marlene has been able to take advantage of many of these services and it has really helped in her recovery.
Marlene's passion has become helping with this walk and because she is my dear friend it has become my passion also. The funds are so important to so many patients like her and without these services, so many would have a much harder time dealing with an awful disease.
You can also join me virtually on June 11th to Walk!
Each time you donate to our team, you are helping another cancer patient in their journey towards recovery. You will be also helping my friend Marlene who bravely continue to fight on. All my love and gratitude for your support.
Achievements
Milestone
Raised the amount of money defined for this milestone
Personal Gift
Has made a donation to this event
My Progress:
of Goal
$4,728
Raised
$4,700.00
Fundraising Honor Roll
Brenda Costigan
$100
Jaime Mercado
$300
John Salata
$250
Lynn Neville
$100
Marc Schiff
$50
Melissa Emmendorfer
$100
Mr. Bruce Weiser
$100
Mr. Bruce Wilson
$250
Mr. Carey Welt
$100
Mr. Edward Linekin
$100
Mr. James Bronner
$250
Mr. James Gilbert
$100
Mr. james shiel
$100
Mr. Jeffrey Hafter
$150
Mr. Joe Sullivan
$300
Mr. Michael 'Mike' Goldman
$300
Mr. Richard Baio
$100
Mr. Robert Welt
$25
Mrs. Jeanette Gault
$50
Mrs. Jen Radcliffe
$26
Mrs. Jill Chase
$36
Mrs. Melissa Ross
$216
Mrs. Rosalia Tavares
$100
Ms. Candace Cushing
$25
Ms. Carol LaPunzina
$250
Ms. Claudia Hirsch
$200
Ms. Deborah (D'Anna) Meyers
$50
Ms. Karen T. Gault-Welt
$250
Ms. Laura S. Burwick
$100
Ms. Maura Welt
$50
Ms. Siobhan Rigby-Hall
$50
Ms. Teresa Sarno
$250
Rachel Baskin
$50
Rob Stone
$250
