“When I participate in the run…..I feel very connected to my mom. I imagine her running by my side and encouraging me….”
-Alana Firsty
The 2021 Firsty Family Moonlight Walk in memory of Julie Seltzer-Firsty was hugely successful, drawing hundreds of participants and exceeding the fundraising goal.
“Every year we do this gets us one year closer to finding a cure for NETs,” said Wayne Firsty, Julie’s husband. “We ended up doing both the 5K walk and then the 5K run, back to back. At moments it felt hard (I am not a runner), but I’d think of Julie and how she continued to challenge herself to overcome the hard stuff. I will continue to do this event in memory of an amazing woman for this amazing cause until a cure is found…and then I’ll continue doing it,” he said. Julie fought valiantly against neuroendocrine cancer for more than five years and died in 2014.
The moonlight walk through the Palo Alto Baylands was a welcomed return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the walk to go virtual last year.
“After not being able to participate as usual last year, it felt amazing to be back,” said Shay, Julie and Wayne’s son. “I felt the presence of everyone, and their eagerness to participate was so much more elevated than in past years. I’m so glad to continue to help raise money to fund the research so that we can one day find a cure,” he said.
The Firsty Family exceeded their fundraising goal by 10%, raising $6,728.00.
Said Julie’s daughter Alana: “Every year I participate in raising money for a cause so close to my heart, and when I start to get tired, her strength and resilience inspires me to keep running as she did in the race for her life.”
The Firsty Family is already planning for their 12th Moonlight Walk in September 2022.