JANUARY IS DISAPPEARING INTO THE MISTS!

Hard to realize that we are already well into January, and I am into the sixth week (of 18) of training. So far, so good, with no more than the usual minor set-backs along the way. Already I have trained in three states because of travel – Indiana and Virginia in addition to Pennsylvania. As a matter of fact, my ‘official’ training began in mid-December in Indianapolis, along the river and the canal on a cold and windy day with a few showers, when I was out there for meetings.

Even though it is still relatively early in my training and fund raising efforts, already I know that the next several months will be very different from any marathon training I have done previously. In the past, a marathon has been for 'me.' I must confess that this one really started out the same way - I was interested in some way to be a part of the Boston Marathon because it has a certain magic. As a walker, there is no way that I could qualify on the basis of time for Boston – the granddaddy of them all. That’s where the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team opportunity came in, and as I have said earlier, I feel both honored and humbled to have been accepted as a team member. As support keeps coming in, the opportunity to help to raise funds for the Barr Fund so it can continue to fund basic research shifts my selfish emphasis by 180 degrees. I am already acutely aware of what my participation may mean for others. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the work it does is so vital to so many. What started out as an opportunity has shifted to become an obligation for me – and one that I willingly accept. I had some considerable trepidation when I started about my ability to raise funds, but I am approaching the half way point of my $10K goal. There is a long way to go, but I will make it.

For those of you who haven’t yet committed financial support to my efforts, you may contribute on-line http://www.rundfmc.org/2010/alanc/ Or if you would prefer not to make a contribution on-line, you can mail a check, made out to Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (please do not make the check out to me!) and send it to me at: Alan Cameron, 541 McCormick Ave., State College, PA 16801. I will see that it is forwarded promptly for deposit. If you wish, you may indicate that the support is in honor of, or in memory of, someone special to you. To the many who have already contributed, again my thanks and appreciation; to others, thank you for considering providing me with additional support.

While I don’t too often show a lot of emotion, I will freely admit that on more than a few occasions I have quite literally been brought to tears as a consequence of my fundraising activities. Stories I have been told, notes that I have received, personal experiences of others – all of these have in different and very meaningful ways have touched me deeply. I guess I have always realized that cancer touches a lot of people. But never had I realized just how pervasive this deadly disease really is. Long time friends as well as people I barely know have shared comments, along with their financial support for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, that really touch the heart. Individual contributions have ranged from $10 to over $1,000. Every single dollar counts, and I treasure the support of each individual contributor. Each of these contributions, when added to those of other team members, really will make a difference as we move a step closer to the goal of putting an end to cancer. The last report I saw is that the Team total is already over $600,000 – over 3 ½ miles along the 26.2 mile route. An updated total should be out soon.

Over Christmas, we were with our son and his wife at their home in southern Virginia. We had a White Christmas, as much of the snow from those paralyzing storms they had in December in that part of the country was still on the ground, and temperatures had remained much lower than those folks are used to seeing. Our daughter and her husband also joined the family there, and Kenzie joined me for 2-3 miles on a 7-mile run I did one brisk morning. Needless to say, that brought back a lot of wonderful memories of the Chicago Marathon (see my posting on November 8 for more – the start of it all for me) in addition to being a wonderful chance to enjoy each other’s company with no interruptions as we watched the sun rise and the suburban area slowly come to life on a Saturday morning. There are special pleasures, along with the rigors of training.

The first couple of weeks of January around here were much colder than normal, and the snow we received before Christmas stayed around with several additional increments added on top of the old snow. Fortunately most of the sidewalks and roads that I use are reasonably clear, so that hasn’t been too much of a problem. Just a need to be aware constantly of icy patches – and to be sure to wear tights and a long-sleeved shirt to stay warm at least until I warm up! Training inside is not an option for me – after about 4 miles (maximum!) of going around and around on the indoor track, I am about ready to scream! Besides, fresh air is always better, even with a bit of a wind blowing. Last Saturday was a 10-mile day. I am pleased to report that my time on all of my training walks is staying right around a 12:00 minute/mile pace. And that is in spite of having been shut down again for almost a week with a recurrence of a lower back problem which erupts periodically. Through the wonders of a good physiotherapist, however, I am back up to speed again and back on to my schedule. Come Marathon Day, most of the participants will already have received their medals, had their post-race food replenishment and even massages, and found their way into a warm shower or tub long before I cross the finish line. But I will enjoy all of those pleasures too, and I will cross the line ahead of at least one person, a runner (not a walker like me) who is younger than I am! I will earn my finisher’s medal. And I will have done my small part to help advance cancer research.

On a very difficult note, I spent most of the afternoon at the hospital today visiting with the wife of a long time dear colleague and friend, and one of those in whose honor I am participating. For a year and a half, I have marveled at his resilience in the face of cancer, and the come-backs he has made. Unfortunately the last couple of months have been increasingly difficult for Paul, and I am afraid that I said my final good-bye to him today. He slept throughout my visit, and isn’t at all responsive. Not a good day. So many people will miss him - as a colleague, as an excellent scientist in his area of expertise, and as a friend. It really drives home yet again just how important it is to find ways to beat this dreadful disease. How I want to participate in Honor of Paul, not in Memory of Paul. Whichever way, though, he will be with me each step of the way on the 19th.