April 21, 2006

Marathon Monday: Triumphant runners and inspiring patients

While thousands of people cheered on runners of the 110th annual Boston Marathon April 17, a special group gathered at Heartbreak Hill to cheer on the MGH Marathon Team "Fighting Kids Cancer ... One Step at a Time" and the MGH Cystic Fibrosis Marathon Team. This small band of cheerleaders included young survivors in whose honor many team members were running to raise money for MassGeneral Hospital for Children and the MGH Cystic Fibrosis Clinic.

The MGH Marathon Team was started in 1998 by Howard Weinstein, MD, chief of MGH Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, after one of his patients died from incurable sarcoma. This year's 106-member team was made up of physicians, nurses, staff, patients' families and members of the community. Their goal was to raise $750,000 for pediatric cancer research. The 15-member Cystic Fibrosis Team intends to raise money to reach their goal of $50,000 for the clinic. Many of the team members had never run a marathon — or any race for that matter — but were inspired to run by the children and their families who battle cancer and cystic fibrosis every day.

Running the marathon was particularly meaningful for one of the MGH team members, Emily Parker of MGH Public Affairs. Not only because it was her first Boston Marathon, but because her boyfriend, Chris Bauernfeind, also surprised her with a marriage proposal at Mile 25 on the course. Wearing a t-shirt with "Marry Me?" on the back, Bauernfeind jogged ahead of her and then officially proposed on bended knee with an engagement ring. "The amazing cheerleaders at Mile 20 gave me a real boost, and then I forgot all about my aching legs at Mile 25," says Parker. "I am still giddy after such a momentous afternoon."