The Research Evangelist

I am involved with many special events that are raising money for cancer research at the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR), and I am so grateful for all of them. One in particular that I attended this month in Washington, DC was the Daffodils & Diamonds 2016 Luncheon to benefit NFCR at the Columbia Country Club. What an inspiring day – over 300 women gathered in resolve to raise money for cancer research, and share the emotional bond of hope for a cure. The Daffodils and Diamonds Luncheon was founded by Bethesda’s Alice-Anne Birch in honor of her mother and sister, both of whom succumbed to the disease. Alice-Anne was co-chair this year with Anne Muir, also of Bethesda. The luncheon is held to raise funds for NFCR, specifically for breast and ovarian cancers.   The Daffodils and Diamonds Committee is a group of strong and accomplished women who have resolved to move forward together in the fight against cancer. Thanks to their hard work and generosity, hundreds of

I often hear my friends and colleagues lamenting about the younger generation and how they act so “entitled”.   I’m sure you’ve heard this too, how they were coddled as kids, grew up in an environment where “everyone gets a trophy”,etc.   I always disagree with them because I have 3 boys, now in their early 20’s, and they do not act entitled or coddled. But last month I witnessed a high school girls basketball program that not only disproved this notion of entitlement, but blew me away with their generosity and dedication to a cause. I’m talking about the Central Catholic girls freshman, JV and varsity basketball teams in Lawrence, MA. This group of amazing girls and their families rallied the Central Catholic community of students, coaches, administrators and families and friends to Play4TheCure , a signature program of the National Foundation for Cancer Research . They were playing in honor of Marilyn Joy, mother of last year's captain and teammate, Toni Joy. Marilyn is