Dear Friends, Acquaintances, Colleagues, and Family,

On April 16, 2012, I will be running the Boston Marathon for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC). I know what you’re thinking: “What, the marathon?! But you haven’t run more than three miles in your entire life!” And isn’t this going to hurt your back? While those statements may be true, I have found a reason that makes it all worthwhile.

Last summer I lost another close family friend to cancer. That makes five family members or friends in as many years. Whether I had been lucky in years prior or simply walking through life with blinders, I hadn’t really felt touched by cancer. But now, I can’t seem to avoid it.

The reality is that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women will be diagnosed with cancer. If you let that statistic sink in …