When I turn 41 on November 5, I’ll be trying something new - running 41 kilometers (around 26 miles) from my house in Southampton, NY to the furthest point of Long Island, in Montauk, NY. I’m doing it to raise funds for my cousin Julie who was 41 when she was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) and who, now at 46, is living with incurable secondary breast cancer. For me, this birthday
has brought more to its door than 40, 30 or those earlier significant ones that happened in places called night clubs. Being here now, I realize 41 is still so young. Julie’s experience has come into sharper focus. When she was diagnosed her two boys were around the same ages my own daughters are now – eight and six. Julie is a fighter but recently she’s been forced to stop using the cancer drug Kadcyla as it became too toxic for her body. After fundraising these past few years for cancer charities close to her heart, friends and family are now directing our efforts towards raising money for Julie herself - to explore alternative treatments, not available through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). We want to give her options. Mostly, we want her to have as much time with her boys as possible. If this seems a little crazy, it is. But then again, what wouldn’t you do to help someone you love? Please show your support for crazy by donating to Julie’s gofundme page at http://www.gofundme.com/julie-sjs-treatment-fund
