Running for a cure
Published on January 29th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - When Stoneham resident David Rosenberg crosses the finish line of the Boston Marathon this year, he will likely experience a feeling of deja vu along with his fatigue and runner's high.
This is Rosenberg's first attempt at the 26.2 mile course that is as much a fixture around these parts on that third Monday in April as any outfitted Patriot in Lexington or Concord. But Rosenberg did lend his support in last year's race as he cheered on his daughter Gia and accompanied her in the final six miles to the finish line.
Now, the Rosenberg father and daughter are training together to run the 2003 Boston Marathon while they work just as hard to spread word about and raise funds for cancer research. Their training is personal. In 2001, Rosenberg's nephew Paul was an active 4 year-old who was suddenly stricken with leukemia. Instead of school, play dates, and soccer in the back yard, little Paul's world for the ensuing year and a half consisted of hospital stays and chemotherapy treatments.
During Paul's initial treatment, Rosenberg traveled to his nephew's hometown of Gaithersburg, Maryland to lend his help and support. He saw firsthand what his nephew had to endure to fight the disease.
"He was very courageous, very tolerant with all that had to be done to him," Rosenberg recalled.
Thankfully, the now 6 year-old Paul is in remission and is evaluated monthly to make sure the disease has not returned.
The 60 year-old Rosenberg, who has run on and off throughout the years, was touched by what he saw back then and returned to Stoneham with a desire to help children like Paul and their families who struggle with cancer. He threw his support behind his daughter as she ran in last year's Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team and raised over $4,500 for cancer research.
"It was that experience, being connected with Dana Farber, (that prompted me) to try to physically get in better condition, despite some bad knees, and fully participate this year."
Rosenberg began his unofficial training. He lost weight and worked with trainer Tony Pallota of Melrose's Runner's Edge. And he began to run more seriously. He then submitted his application, along with about 1,000 other runners, for acceptance to the 2003 Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team. Rosenberg was chosen.
Boston's Dana Farber Cancer Institute is world renown for its research and treatment of cancer. The Dana Farber Marathon Challenge is a program which puts together a team of about 300 runners who are each required to raise a minimum of $2,000. Together, the team trains, runs the Marathon, and raises a great deal of money, all of which goes directly to cancer research.
Rosenberg's work has begun in earnest. Along with a grueling training schedule, the quest for donations to Dana Farber's cancer research has consumed much of his time and has forced him to reach out to family, friends, neighbors and strangers, all in the name of fighting a disease that affects so many.
Among those who received personal letters of request from Rosenberg were classmates from Melrose High School Class of 1961. Responses were touching, Rosenberg said, as many of those classmates relayed stories of how cancer had struck their families as well. One particular classmate and friend told Rosenberg about his 34 year-old son, also named Paul, who was afflicted with colon cancer and about how the young man and his family were coping. Such stories serve to bolster Rosenberg's resolve to continue and enhance his training through the long, frigid winter.
"Not only is the training difficult but the emotions you go through are hard," he admitted.
Members of the Dana Farber team support each other in many ways. One team member is currently grieving the loss of her parent to cancer and is relying on her teammates to help her continue training. The team will run the Melrose half marathon on March 9 which begins at Wakefield's Lake Quannapowitt.
Rosenberg has increased his mileage significantly and has enhanced his cross training to give his knees, which have endured three surgeries, some relief. Despite the physical and emotional pain, the cold, and at times the fatigue, Rosenberg insists he is in good shape to take on Boston.
"I've never felt so good."
Rosenberg has already exceeded his minimum donation requirement. Currently, he has raised about $2,500 but knows that cancer affects far too many people to be satisfied with that figure. If anyone would like to donate to the cause of finding a cure and treatments for cancer, donations can be made to the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge and sent to David Rosenberg, c/o Dana Farber Marathon Challenge, 120 Fellsview Terrace, Unit 122, Stoneham, MA 02180.
"I hope people ... consider donating just in thanks for all the healthy children they have in their family."
When Rosenberg crosses the finish line in Copley Square this time, it will be after a journey he embarked on for two young men named Paul, for the thousands of other families who have been affected by cancer, and for the two healthy children with which he has been blessed.
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