In February of 2003, our son Luke was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 12 months. After more than three years of chemotherapy, Luke had his last treatment in 2006 and graduated college in December 2023.

To celebrate and honor Luke, in 2007 I ran the Long Island Half Marathon in support of Friends of Karen, who helped our family during the hardest time in our lives. Friends of Karen provides emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to help keep them stable, functioning, and able to cope.

Friends of Karen has always been there for our family. The past few years, Todd, Pat, Luke, Ciara, Shannon and myself have joined the weekend festivities and find it so heartwarming to see the support of so many amazing people recognizing the mission of Friends of Karen.

We are so grateful to have an opportunity to give back to this organization in a fun way. We look forward to being at the 18th Annual Walk-Run this year on May 2nd!.

Please help this wonderful organization by making a donation.

With your support, Friends of Karen relieves families of the hardship of paying for huge medical co-payments, multiple prescriptions, enormous travel costs for daily hospital visits, mounting expenses for utilities, housing, food and childcare, sibling support, and other necessities when facing a health crisis.

No matter how great or small, it helps make a difference in the life of a child. Thank you so much.