“She believed in the power of research”

This is a MOMENTOUS year for doing this walk. Last year I mentioned we are working towards sponsoring a NETRF Mentored Research Award in Julie’s name focused on the treatment of lung NETs (which is what she had). This year we will reach the goal necessary to fund the scientist and get the research underway!

As the kids grow up, doing this walk together as a family becomes more challenging every year. Last year we met in Florida and did the walk (see photo above). This year is tougher. Shay graduated LMU in May and moved to Denver to begin a job as an accountant with Ernst and Young. In between work assignments, making new friends, and exploring the beauty of Colorado, he is studying for his CPA exams. Alana is a junior in college, and this semester she is studying abroad in Australia. In addition to her classwork and having fun in Sydney, she is interning at a marketing communications company.

So, on the night of October 3rd (which is noontime on October 4th for Alana), the three of us will each do the Palo Alto Moonlight Walk physically in different locations and join each other ‘virtually’ on WhatsApp (I don’t have an iPhone so Facetime is not an option).

Sponsoring the research award costs $100,000 and between the walk last year and additional fund-raising efforts, the amount raised so far is approximately $85,000 – leaving a balance of $15,000. And extra good news…two donors have agreed to match the donations raised during the walk 1:1,  up to a total of $5,000 each. That means we need to raise $5,000 which then becomes $15,000.