Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium @runyon5k - Tumblr Blog

Team leader

My team is in memory of Marion Julia Guzowski & Paula Helen Reichle both whom have passed due to cancer both avid yankee fans right up to their last days. Paula received a signed ball from Bernie Williams which she cherished until her last days. Marion loved Mariano and Jeter They are truly missed!

Bluebirds in Pinstripes - we run for friendship!

It was the second day of kindergarten. A little girl with red hair came up to me with her bear and camel animal crackers in the palm of her hand. I had a bear and camel animal cracker too! We decided then that we would be friends forever.

Unfortunately, not all kindergarten dreams come true. When Jill was 9 years old she was diagnosed with cancer. She had a tumor in her leg. It's not easy for 9 year olds to understand - shouldn't a doctor be able to take it out? They weren't able to. Despite being in and out of hospitals and chemotherapy treatments Jill's brain was full of strength. She wrote a beautiful poem about a bluebird and when she passed away on November 24, 1990 that bluebird, who sang "the story of life," would become the symbol of Jill's spirit and her legacy for everyone who knew her and even for people who never had the fortune to know her.

For years I grappled with the idea that everything I did - I did for both of us. I lived the life that she didn't get to live. I had a Bat Mitzvah, I went to Israel, I went to High School, I watched her brother and my sister - best friends to this day - get ready for the Junior Prom. I went away to college and I dated and I traveled and I always did it for both of us. When I was 23 I got a bluebird tattoo. There, now a part of her is always with me.

Over the years our families had really become family. That included holiday dinners, weddings, the birth of her niece and nephew and Yankee games. So in 2013, when I learned about a 5K at Yankee Stadium for which the proceeds went to the Damon Runyon Research Foundation, I gathered a group of friends and we raised money for cancer research in Jill's memory. We were the Bluebirds in Pinstripes. My husband made us the perfect logo and we hit that warning track with the drive of so many Yankee legends before us. My parents and Jill's parents were in the Delta Suites rooting us on. It felt so great. To have friends and family all running with Jill's bluebird, in pinstripes, on our shirts and, always, in our hearts.

Now, in our 4th year, we are an even bigger team and we're making our way towards our $10,000 fundraising goal! You can help: http://damon.convio.net/goto/SharonAlise2016

On Sunday August 20, 2016 I will run and walk (there are a lot of stairs at Yankee Stadium!) to celebrate Jill's life and the friendship that we built which has outlived cancer.

Team Rhino

Anyone who has ever lost a loved one to cancer knows the feeling of helplessness. That feeling of not being able to do anything to make it better. You watch them battle the disease, cope with the side effects of chemo treatments, endure the agonizing wait for test results and tumor markers, and all the while, try to live every single moment they have to the fullest.

In July of 2008, I lost my dad…my hero, the greatest man I have even known…to esophageal cancer after a gallantly-fought, nearly two-year battle. That first year without him was an unbelievably painful one for my family, and as the first Father’s Day approached, I knew I had to find a way to channel the overwhelming sadness and anger I was feeling. A way to try to relieve that feeling of helplessness, to make a difference, to do something to help people who were still fighting the battle. I grabbed my computer and started randomly searching for cancer fundraising events in my area. I came across a few, but as I looked further into where the money that was raised went, I was disappointed to find that most of it went to “administrative costs.” While certainly wonderful organizations I’m sure, this wasn’t the type of difference I needed to make. Finally, I stumbled upon the Damon Runyon 5K website. I loved the fact that 100% of the money raised went directly to cancer research, and while I’m definitely not an expert in the field, I was amazed at what seemed like ground-breaking work that their scientists were doing. To top it off, my dad was a big Yankees fan so the unique venue made it seem like the perfect fit!

I remember tentatively mentioning the event to my mom a few days later and asking, “What do you think? Do you think we’ll be able to get ten people to go? That would be so great!” So I reached out to my family and friends, and without even a moment’s hesitation on their part, they were in, and Team Rhino was born. Much to my surprise and delight, instead of 10 people that first year, we had 22! The next year, our number of team members grew to 25. And year after year, the number has continued to climb. This year will be Team Rhino’s seventh Runyon 5K! Nieces and nephews who were just toddlers when we began, now run the 5K with us! My initial goal of 10 (which seemed a bit out of reach at the time) will be blown away with 38 members this year (and that doesn’t event count the loved ones we have who come cheer us on from the Spectator Section of the stadium!). While I had set a fundraising goal of $100 seven years ago, Team Rhino has now contributed thousands to cancer research through this event. Unfortunately, the number of loved ones we have lost to cancer since we began has also grown, but that simply fuels our desire to continue to participate and do our part to help battle the disease.

Initially, this event was a coping strategy for me…a way to channel my sadness and fight back against a disease that has taken so much from the people I love…but it has grown to mean so much more to all of us. It is a day that, no matter how hectic everyone’s schedules are, we all come together, we share countless laughs, we pose for silly stadium pictures, and we celebrate the lives of those we've lost. It has become a cherished family tradition, as important to us as Christmas holidays and birthday gatherings. Through the Runyon 5K, we smile, we laugh, we heal, but, most importantly, we make a difference.

–Tracy Carroll, Captain of Team Rhino

Stay Strong.... Inspire.... Show no tears.... This is my fourth Damon Runyon 5k. I have run each one in honor of my Nan who lost her flight with bladder cancer two years ago. My Nan was my inspiration. She was tough, yet soft when she needed to be. She was honest & to the point, a trait many couldn't always tolerate, but one that was passed down to her grandkids. Cancer entered, and took her life way too fast. Throughout it, she never faltered. She kept her humor and her dignity.... And I made her a promise, that I would be a part of something that would eventually find a cure. I believe Damon Runyon will do this. This years race is extra special to me. In June I had surgery and underwent a partial knee replacement. My goal from the start was to complete the Yankee 5k. I may not be able to run it, but I will, without a doubt, finish it. My sister Lindsey and I have opened the race up to a team, 'British Bulldogs'. It will be an amazing day, an amazing race...and we will do our Nan proud. One day, there will be a cure for cancer...💕

United Against Cancer

For the upcoming Runyon 5K, Steve Stears has enlisted a team that is “United Against Cancer.” Already 17 members strong, the team is in first place raising funds for the Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium on August 3rd.

“There are some great cancer charities out there, but I like the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation because it focuses on innovation, the research and development aspects that enable people to drive their ideas forward,” says the 44-year-old from Nanuet in Rockland County.

Originally from the south coast of England, Stears has lived in the United States for the last decade. As Director/Team Leader for Manufacturing at Pfizer, he is responsible for Biotech Operations at the Pearl River site.

“I am proud to say that I’ve always been associated with the manufacture of oncology products and seen the impact they've made,” he says. “There is so much opportunity to do more in this space.”

On a personal level, cancer has touched those around him. “I lost an uncle to cancer in 2008, my mother in 2011 to breast cancer, and my father at the end of last year to lung cancer,” he says. “It’s a compelling reason to get off your butt and do something.”

This August 3rd will mark the third time he has taken part in the Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium. While he’d signed up in 2011, his mother passed away during that time so he wasn’t able to participate, although his wife, Nicola, did.

“Nicola said it was a unique experience,” he says.

While he and his wife initially divided into two teams – his wife’s known as Shirley’s Angels, after his mother – they have since merged into one to run the race and fight the battle together.

Colleagues from Pfizer's Research and Development and Manufacturing units are among the team members (and he hopes the team’s membership will grow to 25 by the time of the event).

And, he adds, “In addition to the Yankee fans, we have Mets fans running, Red Sox fans running. It’s an eclectic mix.”

When he steps into the stadium in August, he will be motivated by the promise of future innovation, progress supported by Damon Runyon.

“That is my main motivation,” he says. “It is important that people keep coming back to the stadium for this event, or participating as donors. It’s a great experience and I encourage more people to do this.”

You can support his team by clicking here.

#Runyon 5K #Damon Runyon #5K

Evelyn Gomez: Running with a Purpose

Most mornings, Evelyn Gomez can be found jogging around Travers Park in Jackson Heights. It’s not just for the exercise: she’s training to change lives.

She has signed up to participate in the Runyon 5K, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s annual event at Yankee Stadium in which thousands of people will participate on August 3rd to raise money – and awareness – for cancer research.

“One of the reasons I chose to support Damon Runyon is because 100% of the money raised goes to research - all kinds of cancer research,” she says. “Though I'm a breast cancer survivor myself, I've lost loved ones to many different types of cancer.”

This is the first time the 40-year-old New York City native has signed up for the annual race, and already she has become one of the top individual fundraisers for the event.

Why did you get involved?

I wanted to do something to help with the fight against cancer. I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, which is one of the more aggressive forms of cancer with a high rate of recurrence. I'm currently in a clinical trial so I know how important research is. Choosing to support the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation just made sense.

How did you first hear about it?

I saw a report on FOX 5 about Damon Runyon’s previous event at Yankee Stadium. I had been looking for an event to participate in, and this one caught my eye. I did a bit of research and liked what I saw so I signed up.

How have you been touched by cancer?

Who hasn't? I am a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed just three months after giving birth to my son. And like so many others, I've lost loved ones to cancer, like my father who died of prostate cancer. But I also have the good fortune of having loved ones who are cancer survivors as well.

Why was this event important for you to participate?

As a lifelong Yankees fan, this was the only way I'd get on the field since there are no girls in baseball! But more importantly, I wanted to seize the opportunity to support an organization that puts 100% of the donations into research concerning not just one kind of cancer – but all kinds of cancer.

What message do you hope to send?

We all need to get involved because we've all been touched by cancer in one way or another. The only way we're gonna get ahead of this is to do something about it. We've been watching in the stands for too long. It's time to take the field and make a difference.

How are you training?

Running around my local park. There's a slight incline on one side so I'm hoping it will help with the ramps and stairs. I used to run a looong time ago. But it's been about 10 years since I've done any real running. So I'm taking it slow. It's not a competition for me so I'm sticking by the old adage "Slow and steady wins the race". It's raising money that counts.

Who will be there to support you that day?

My husband and my son. And of course a few hundred friends, all raising money for the cause!

You can support Evelyn – and Damon Runyon – by visiting her personal page here.

Mike Marando: A Poignant Anniversary

(Pictured, left to right: Mike Marando, his mother Kathy, brother Matthew, father Joe, and sister Melissa.)

When Mike Marando heads to Yankee Stadium on August 3rd, it won’t be to see his favorite baseball team. It will be to run for a cause - and celebrate an important anniversary.

August 3rd, 2014, will mark a year and a day since the 25-year-old was deemed cancer-free after undergoing surgery to remove a testicular tumor. The diagnosis triggered a rollercoaster of emotions, he says, and the experience has made him into a stronger, healthier person.

He took up running in the aftermath of the surgery and began participating in long distance runs, taking part in his first 10K earlier this year. He’s signed up for his first New York City Marathon this November.

But first, August 3rd represents an important step forward for him. The Bay Ridge, Brooklyn resident will be participating in the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s sixth annual Runyon 5K.

“Last year a friend whose relative was afflicted with breast cancer wanted me to do it with her but I was busy. Then a few weeks later I was diagnosed with testicular cancer,” says Marando, who was born and raised in Commack, Long Island. “When you find out, it’s depressing; you are scared. To me, it was a challenge in my life that I knew I had to overcome.”

Marando had surgery in July 2013, and was declared cancer-free in early August.

A special education math teacher at the Charles O. Dewey Middle School (MS 136) in Sunset Park, he serves as the school’s advisory to the National Honor Society. “I let these young adults know about the importance of fundraising and donating to charities. That’s my mission in life, to help others. That’s why I became a teacher, so I can help kids,” he says.

And that’s why he’s stepped up to the plate this summer. He’s formed a 7-member team – the Pirates of the Cureibbean – and will be running the 5K with his girlfriend and members of both of their families (including his brother and sister – the three are triplets).

“There are always ways in which you can overcome challenges,” he says. “I now love running and since it’s going to be a one-year anniversary of being can cancer-free, it is a great opportunity to help fight cancer and to do something I love.”

An added bonus is the venue in which he will mark the occasion.

“I am a diehard Yankees fan,” he says. “The only place I would have a difficult time doing this would be in Boston!”

You can support Marando by visiting his personal 5K page here.

#Runyon 5K #Damon Runyon #Yankees #Yankee Stadium

In case you missed it, the New York Post - one of our key sponsors - featured this ad for us today. Thanks to all of our sponsors, and we are looking forward to an amazing event on August 3rd. www.runyon5k.org

Have you seen our posters across the city? Thanks to our sponsors!

Melesa's Wings - Why We Run

Runyon 5K Participant Jose Manchola writes:

"On Sunday, August 3, I will be combining my passion for running and my love for the Yankees. This will be my 3rd year in a row running the Runyon 5k. Not only will I get to explore the concourses and ramps, climb stairs between levels, and take my own victory laps around the warning track that circles the field. I will also get to raise money for cancer research in the process.

Fourteen years ago my beautiful mother, Maria Elena Escobar (Melesa), lost her battle with cancer and every year I make sure to run this race in her honor. She always taught us the importance of family, being happy, and enjoying life. My mother is my idol and raised my sister and I to be who we are today. While I shed my share of tears at the beginning of this race every year, I know that she is there next to me enjoying the view and helping me up those 300 stairs. This is my way of trying to help get rid of cancer one stride at a time. The goal that I have is $500 but I want to make sure I go above and beyond that this year. You can choose ANY amount you want to give - all donations are gratefully received!!! I will be having a contest via Instagram to raise money so follow me @yankeerunner77 for more details. 100% of the money I raise will be used by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation to fund innovative research by today’s most brilliant young scientists, who are racing to find the causes and cures for all types of cancer. We all know someone that has had or has cancer. Please write your name and the person who you would like me to run for. I will be writing their names on a big poster and taking a picture inside of the stadium. Also, If you would like to join team Melesa’s Wing’s, you will be welcomed with open arms! Thank you for your support. - See more at my fundraising page on the Runyon 5K website.”

Share your own story here.

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will serve as the Official Ambassador of the Sixth Annual Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium, the only charitable run/walk that uses the iconic Stadium as its course. The top individual fundraiser for this year’s event, to be held on Sunday, August 3rd, will win a pair of tickets to a Yankees game this season, complete with the chance to meet Gardner before he takes the field. Registration is open at www.Runyon5k.org

Haihua Chu: Charting a New Frontier

Michigan native Haihua Chu, 30, is celebrating his year anniversary as a Damon Runyon fellow this month. When he ran the annual Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium last year, he was new to the organization, and so he's excited for the event this August so he can connect with even more people.

"Any way I can promote the program, I'd be happy to," Chu said. "I'm looking forward to speaking to more survivors and donors this year."

Chu received his undergraduate degree from Princeton in 2005, where he majored in Chemical Engineering. He later attended Johns Hopkins University, and was awarded a PhD in 2012 in Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

Currently, Chu is doing postdoctoral work at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Scott Armstrong Lab, focusing on cutting-edge epigenetic research – which deals with proteins controlling the expression and activity of genes – in pediatric oncology.

Chu first became interested in molecular biology as an undergrad, and after college spent a year working at the National Institute of Health's Lou Staudt Lab, which focuses on lymphoma research.

"It was then that I first became interested in answering difficult biological questions and the potential therapeutic impact on human disease," Chu said. "Now we really have the technology to start answering these questions, how observations made on the bench side [in the lab] translate to potential clinical therapies at the [patient’s] bedside."

At Johns Hopkins, Chu worked in the Don Small Lab in the Department of Pediatric Oncology, studying mutations in a gene that have been found in acute myeloid leukemia.

"As I went through my PhD, I realized that there were basic biological questions that we didn't understand," Chu said. "So I ended up doing stem cell research to discover how these mutations contribute to the development of leukemia."

Now, while at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Chu said he's involved in "a new frontier" of research in defining and understanding the effects of a new class of potential cancer therapeutics, which he said he feels fortunate to be doing as a Damon Runyon fellow.

Chu, who is a regular runner, said that his experience running the Damon Runyon 5K last year was unparalleled.

"The course itself is amazing," Chu said. "You get to run on the field, and the view from the tiers was incredible. At the end, you hang out in the skybox and watch others finishing. It was cool to see it from that vantage point."

You can help Dr. Haihua Chu raise money to help more young cancer researchers like himself by making a contribution through his personal Damon Runyon 5K donation page.

Eirini Papapetrou: Scientists should be strong advocates for research

Eirini Papapetrou, MD, PhD, an Associate Professor with the Department of Oncological Sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is relatively new to running, but she’s already gearing up to run her first 5K in August – for a good cause that’s also very familiar.

Born and raised in Greece, she attended University of Patras, where she earned her M.D. in Medicine, M.Sc. in Basic Medial Science, and Ph.D. on Molecular Genetics.

She later was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center before relocating to Seattle, WA, where she was an Assistant Processor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pathology before returning to New York City in April.

“I am a Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator (supported by a Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award),” she says. “This award is designed to support the most creative young scientists to pursue ideas that can potentially lead to major breakthroughs in our understanding and treatment of cancer.”

This summer, she is among the group of young Damon Runyon cancer researchers who have signed up to take part in the Sixth Annual Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium, the only charitable run/walk that uses the iconic Stadium as its course.

Why did you pursue funding from Damon Runyon?

The Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award is one of the most prestigious awards for early career investigators. It is a big honor and responsibility to continue the legacy of outstanding scientists who have been former DR innovators and who went on to make major discoveries. Also, DR further fosters the careers of its awardees and creates opportunities for networking and collaborations between them.

Tell me about your specialty, and what your research is focusing on?

My laboratory specializes in developing novel models of human disease using pluripotent stem cells. Specifically, we are generating stem cells from adult cells that can be obtained from any individual, called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), using technologies that became available just very recently.

What is unique about my research is that I am using iPSCs to develop models of cancer, particularly blood cancers. These open tremendous new possibilities for investigating these diseases and asking questions about what goes wrong with blood formation that turns it into leukemia in ways that were not possible before.

Why was this field of interest to you?

As a training physician, I was amazed by how sophisticated we are about the molecular causes of some diseases and at the same time how ignorant we are about others and cancers fell mostly in the latter category. Training as an MD/PhD I had my share of going back and forth between the bench and the bedside and realized that clinical investigators and basic scientists rarely understand each other.

Physician/scientists prefer to study their patients and tissues from patients whenever available, thinking in a more holistic way. On the other hand basic scientists use simpler systems, like immortalized cell lines or model organisms (like flies, worms, fish and mice), which can provide more defined and controlled systems but often aren’t as directly relevant to the human condition. I believe that stem cell models derived from patient cells can bridge this gap and combine the relevance of patient-derived cells with a more simple and tractable cell-based system.

What impact do you hope your research has?

I hope that stem cell research will provide important insights into the genetic and molecular events causing myelodysplasia and leukemia. These insights may ultimately help us identify key targets for drugs that can effectively treat these devastating diseases without the dramatic side effects of current treatments like chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.

Why are you participating in the August 3rd event?

I recently read in an article that only a few Americans can name a living scientist or an institution where research takes place. This is at a time when Federal funding for research and innovation in the United States is on decline, and science is not viewed as an appealing career choice for young people starting their undergraduate or graduate studies. So, I increasingly think that scientists have an obligation to engage in conversing with the public and to become strong advocates for research.

Are you a runner?

I am a very recent runner-in-training. As I am now spending less time in the bench and more in leadership/supervisory roles in my laboratory, and devoting a great deal of my time thinking, reading and writing about science, I hope that taking up running can make up for the lost physical activity during the work day.

What do you hope people learn about Damon Runyon?

Damon Runyon is unique in that it invests a great deal of effort in identifying the most promising young talents and in fostering their careers. People at Damon Runyon take the extra step to hold in-person interviews where past innovators identify new innovators to ensure that funding goes to the hands of the most promising people.

New York Yankees Outfielder Brett Gardner Becomes Official Ambassador of the 2014 Runyon 5K

The top individual fundraiser for this year’s event, to be held on Sunday, August 3rd, will win a pair of tickets to a Yankees game this season, complete with the chance to meet Gardner before he takes the field.

"The Runyon 5K provides a great opportunity for fans to enjoy a unique Stadium experience while contributing to an important cause and a wonderful organization,” Gardner said. “I am honored to be a part of the Runyon 5K and encourage all Yankees fans to show their support and run or walk to fight cancer."

Gardner, drafted by the Yankees in the third round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of Charleston, has found a home in the Bronx and been welcomed with open arms by fans for his invaluable contributions. From 2008-2013 he stole 161 bases for the Yankees, including a league-leading 49 in 2011.

The speedster Gardner is putting up All-Star numbers and is currently batting .287 with 28 RBI’s, six home runs and 15 stolen bases. He is on the American League All-Star ballot with hopes to be voted by the fans to the 2014 All-Star Game in Minnesota on July 15, 2014.

The event is expected to draw thousands of participants from across the country and globe, including baseball fans, runners, cancer survivors, and supporters, all gathering in the famed Stadium. The course winds through the ballpark’s concourses and ramps, and up stairs between levels. All participants can circle the field on the warning track and see themselves on the centerfield video board. After the run/walk, scientists funded by Damon Runyon will be on hand to meet and congratulate participants.

The Runyon 5K has raised nearly $3 million for cancer research since its inception in 2009. Last year’s event raised more than $760,000 and included participants ranging in age from 5 to 77 years old and hailing from more than 35 states.

Registration for individuals and teams is open at www.runyon5k.org. Participants pay a $40 entry fee from now until June 30, and $50 from July 1 to July 22 or until capacity (4,000 participants) is reached. All participants must raise at least $60 in support of cancer research.

The first heat of elite runners will launch at 9:30am, followed by heats of recreational runners and walkers throughout the day, with the last heat taking off in the early afternoon.

Mary Tricario: A Number to Remember

Mary Tricario is running in the Damon Runyon 5K under the same bib number – 2039 – she did last year, and for a very good reason.

Cancer is personal to Mary, as she has lost two friends, an aunt, two uncles and her father to the disease. Before he passed away in 1997, her father was a New Jersey State Trooper, well-known and well-regarded in his community.

Both huge Yankees fans, Mary supported her then-boyfriend's participation in the 2010 Runyon 5K. The bib number he wore on race day held special significance: “After some research into the work that the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation did, we decided that he would run under my father’s badge number, 2039.”

After their separation in 2012, she trained for the 2013 5K as a way to cope with the breakup and crossed the finish line at Yankee Stadium proudly wearing bib number 2039 – and is vowing to do so again in her father’s memory this summer.

“In 2013, I felt like I had to reclaim the number, not just for my father’s honor but for myself and my family,” she said. “It is important to me because it's an important cause and a way for me to honor my father, my family and friends that I have lost and the family and friends living with cancer.”

The New Jersey resident from Middlesex County, a heart disease survivor as a result of a congenital heart defect, works as a paralegal, yoga instructor and local music promoter and hopes to build a team for the August 3rd event.

“This year I am encouraging anyone who wants to run with me to do so,” she said. “I want people to see that movement is a way to get through struggles.”

Last year, she finished the 5K in just over 33 minutes, and this year hopes to improve on that. “I just hope to beat last year's time and have even more fun than I did last year,” she said.

She praises the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation for all of its efforts to fund and find cancer cures. “They really do amazing work,” she said. “We won't beat cancer unless there is solid, innovative research going on. Without it, we cannot hope to try to find new ways, better ways of treating it and hopefully finding a cure.”

Help Mary Tricario raise money by making a contribution through her personal Damon Runyon 5K donation page.

#damonrunyon #runyonup #yankees #new york yankees #yankees stadium

Dr. Lydia Finley: Researching and Running

Native New Yorker Dr. Lydia Finley, 31, who became a Damon Runyon fellow in 2013, ran her first Damon Runyon 5k at Yankee Stadium last year—and said she wouldn't miss the opportunity to participate again.

"If you're passionate about finding a cure for cancer, it's really rewarding to meet the people whose lives are touched by it," she said. "It's motivating and reenergizing when you go back to the lab."

Finley went to college at Yale, where she majored in Biology, and after graduating in 2005 attended Harvard for her PhD, which she received in 2011. She works at the prestigious Craig Thompson Lab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Finley's research focuses on how cellular metabolism is affected by cancer, and how cancer cells use their metabolic pathways for growth. When Finley was in college she became interested in the ways in which cells use nutrients to function, so in graduate school she looked for labs that focused on cell metabolism. It turned out that the protein she was studying was important in relation to human cancer, which put her on the path to becoming a cancer researcher.

"Damon Runyon is very well known in scientific community," she said. "I had always heard about Damon Runyon fellows and always dreamed of applying as a post-doc. It gives you membership to a community that includes an incredible network of scientists, colleagues, collaborators, and friends."

With ever-dwindling federal funds, Finley said that the generosity of donors is becoming an increasingly important part of making progress towards new cures for cancer. Being a Damon Runyon fellow allows her to focus on her research without worrying about where her next grant will come from, which means she’s able to do more work in less time.

"It can be really hard as a young researcher because there's not a lot of funding for post-docs," she said. "But Damon Runyon has a lot of faith that young investigators have something to contribute."

Help Dr. Lydia Finley raise money to help more young cancer researchers like herself by making a contribution through her personal Damon Runyon 5K donation page.

infectedworldmind

After the fun of the WCS Run for the Wild 5K, I decided to keep up the momentum with a new charity 5K!

On August 3, 2014, I will be participating in the Runyon 5k, a cool fundraising event in support of groundbreaking cancer research. The 5K will be in Yankee Stadium (!), where runners will run through the Stadium’s concourses and ramps, climb stairs between levels and enjoy victory laps around the warning track.

It’s an amazing opportunity to explore the stadium and see it from a player’s point of view while supporting a great cause.

All funds raised support the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, which is working hard to find the causes and cures for all types of cancer.

If you’d like to join me in the run, register here.

If you’d like to donate, click here. Any amount would be greatly appreciated!

You can read more about the run at www.runyon5k.org or learn about the Foundation at www.damonrunyon.org.

runyon5k

See you there!

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