The Anal Cancer Foundation provides support for anal cancer thrivers, caregivers, and providers connected to anal cancer. ACF advocates for prevention methods that will end HPV and anal cancer such as gender neutral vaccination, and supports research for new anal cancer treatment methods.  

My mother, Monica, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, anal origin stage IIIB in 2015.  She underwent her first round of chemotherapy and radiation while continuing to work full time as a Chief Financial Officer.  I mention that because her job was one of the pieces of her life that she was so proud of.  Rigorous treatment was not successful for my mother and the next option was surgery.  She underwent a 15+ hour surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering where the surgeons removed a grapefruit size tumor.  Her worst fear was undergoing all of this turmoil to have the same result, to not survive.  I still find it hard to write about everything she went through.  Although it was difficult for me I cant begin to imagine how my mother really felt.  In September 2016 Monica Wray passed in my childhood home.  She was 58 years old, and she was brilliant.  

My mother is more than just the story about unsuccessful treatment.  She was an incredible soul who would have done anything for those she loved.  She enjoyed cross stitch and B-rated horror movies.  She had an addiction to popcorn made on the stove and had a large collection of cable knit sweaters.  She loved spending time in Vermont and Fire Island while reading Sidney Sheldon novels.  As a child she would read me books at bedtime, Grimm's Fairytales was our favorite.  She loved Law and Order SVU and Lifetime movies that would make her cry.  She wasn’t just my mother, she was also my friend and I didnt get enough time as an adult to truly appreciate her.  

I am fundraising to give a chance to someones mother, sister, cousin, partner, lover.  For them to have the chance to grow old and not just survive, but thrive.  Im fundraising for my best-friends mother who I look up to and one of the strongest, toughest, bravest people I know.  Please share with me in supporting The HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation, thank you.