Fundraising Goal: $3,500
Age: 49
Bio: This year marks my second marathon effort for Team Waxman. However, as the former owner of Zoe restaurant in SoHo and Jovia and Cena restaurants as well, I have had the pleasure of working with the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation for many years and have always enjoyed supporting this great cause.
Last year I wrote of my wife Thalia’s experiences with breast cancer and how it impacted our family’s lives. I am thrilled to say once again she is cancer free and as a family she, Cena and I continue to appreciate how fortunate she really is.
Sadly I can’t share those feelings about my dad – Stefano, who succumbed to lung cancer this past summer. After two months being treated for what what his local doctors in North Carolina had though was a sinus infection, then pneumonia- a chest x-ray revealed a 4 cm spot on his left lung. A subsequent biopsy confirmed the worst. Within days he was brought to New York under the care of Dr. Waxman and his colleagues at Mount Sinai. Unfortunately his condition was so advance that he was hospitalized shortly after his arrival, the cancer having metastasized to his brain and other areas. Treatments did little to slow his cancer’s advance, illustrating the darkest side of this terrible disease. Dr. Waxman and the staff associated with my father’s treatment were nothing short of amazing, showing care and compassion throughout what was an impossible situation. The facility and attention my father received at Mount Sinai was second to none.
Tragically I witnessed a once healthy and vibrant man deteriorate into a shell of his former self. From prognosis to his passing a mere six months elapsed. His profession as a contractor and smoking cigarettes in post-war Italy may have contributed to his illness, breathing in cement dust and other potential carcinogens. However, he loved what he did. Anyone that remembers Zoe only had to look at his handy work in the beautiful tile installation over our open kitchen or the plaster fresco on it’s walls. He was steadfast, proud and incredibly resilient.
Once again, on Sunday, November 7, 2010, I will be fortunate enough to join 40,000 other passionate athletes to run one of the world’s greatest Marathons through the world’s greatest city – The ING New York City Marathon – 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of the Big Apple. Ten runners including myself will represent Team Waxman and The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Each of us will be reaching out to our friends, family and colleagues to raise money to aid cancer research.
I hope you will help support mine and the entire Team Waxman’s marathon effort by clicking the link below and giving your support. Please remember to select my name from the list of team members on the drop down window. I look forward to seeing you at the finish line!
Stephen would like to thank the following donors:
Joseph Albanese
Arthur Backal
Kenneth Blatt
Andrew Brown
Brenda Cahill
Steve Cohen
Cyndia Coll
Bob and Sandy Drake
Patricia Enright
FJC: A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds
John J. Fragiacomo
James Glenister
Matthew Gold
Janet E. Goldman
R. Anthony Goldman
Andrew Gwyther
Douglas Halliday
Scott Ingham
Kallas Family Partnership LP
Lois A. Jackson DDS PC
Nick, Jodie, Raquel and Kira Kallas
Ianthe Kallas-Bortz
Jonathan Katz
Kishin Kirpalani
Robert Koweek
G. Mark Meyers
Margaret Moore
Elaine Natalicchi
Tracy Nieporent
Numan Numan
Michael F. Parlamis
Sandra Perucci
Adam Price
Sal Puleio
Christopher Ryan
Michael Salzhauer
Myles Share
Denise A. Simicic
Ursula Simicic
Linda Stein
Eugene Sturtz
Turon Travel
Fundraising Goal: $3,500
Age: 25
Bio: Brian is running his first (and hopefully last) New York City marathon after hearing about the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation and realizing that there was something he could do to help the cause. After not having laced up the shoes in a while and spending a few too many hours sitting at his desk, he has been hitting the road for the last few weeks and is feeling confident about setting a personal record in the first week of November.
He is excited to be running for Team Waxman and can’t wait to get across the finish line.
Age: 23
Bio: Peter Bartlett is running the NYC Marathon for his grandmother Mimi (pictured at left with Peter) who, after battling liver cancer for just over a year, passed away earlier this summer. She passed on the day Peter ran his first NY Road Runner race, the Queens Half.
“I’ve known for a while now that I wanted to compete in the NY Marathon this year, but when my grandmother lost her battle with cancer, I knew I had to do it for a charity,” he said. “It’s the perfect way to honor her, and this is the perfect charity.”
Bartlett recognizes that more and more families are forced to deal with the effects of cancer, and is looking forward to contributing to the effort to find a cure.
He has been running competitively for close to 10 years now, including four years on Princeton University’s track team, but never attempted a marathon before. Despite his inexperience at this distance, he has lofty goals, and hopes to place in the top 100 and break 2:40. He’s been putting in his miles training, and he cannot wait to cross the finish line in November!
Peter would like to thank the following donors:
Benny Adler
Gerald and Jodi Agnew
Jude Arena
Michael Baldwin
Brett Barnes
Bridget Bartlett
Erin and Peter Bartlett
Stephen Beckwith
Andrew Berman
Daniel and Kathleen Bethencourt
Nancy Blair
Ron Blake
Peter Bliven
Evan Boulukos
Patrick Brett
Cindy Brock
Charles Brown
Derek Brown
Genny Brown
Madson Buchbinder
Jeff Campeas
Matthew Carter-Tracy
Peter Chalif
Jerry and Sydlee Cohen
Thomas Coomes
Donald Corsaro
A. Nicole Cunningham
David Cyganowski
Jimena Dake
Kevin Danckwerth
Adam Davis
Kimberly Davis Shapiro
John DeCarlo
Mark and Ellen De Rocco
Curt Demers
Grant Dewey
Al Dopking
Austin B. Drill
Craig Drill
Katherine Fedele
Stephanie Finch
Rachel Franzblau
Ryan Freel
Chris Gallic
Joseph Geraci
Erik Hall
Steven Hall
Ryan Hallam
Maureen Hawke
John Heppolette
Michael Higgins
Aubrey Hurse
Lori Ireland
Ami Jain
William Keays
Thomas Keelan
Corinne Keller
Rade Kljajic
Craig and Dawn Knickerbocker
Nancy Lauterbach
Miriam Large
Mark J. Lawless
Alexandra Levin
Tara Liddle
Maureen Liebes
Bartley Livolsi
Marc Livolsi
Marino Lorza
Elaine Lovell
Jeffrey Luse
Ellen Maguire
Matthew Mallgrave
Michelle and Mike Manclark
William Mangan
Mary Martin
Thomas H. Massey
Ronald J. Marino
Howard Marsh
John and Emily McCarthy
Katrien McCarthy
Michael Mcmanus
Chris McNichol
Eric Mihelc
Claudia Milgrim
Cheri Mitchell
Stephanie Moses
Dan Mulligan
John Paskalides
GeGe Pender
Joe Resciniti
Katie Robinson-Duff
Margie Robinson-Duff
Susan Rhudy
John Rice
Chris Roeder
Duncan Rowland
Adam Rudner
Griag Saloom
Denise Rivera Sanchez
Debra Schalk
Barbara Smallwood
Joel Sternbach
Gregory Swanson
Joseph and Helen Teklits
Paula Thomas
Daniel Tomson
Locky Trachsel
Donna Trammell
Carla Villacorta
Douglas Vissicchio
Sophia Volandes
Diana and Arthur Walton
Theodore T. Wang
Donald Weiss
Gisele Weiss
George Wheatley
John Whipple
Karen Whitby
Debra B. White
Jacquie White
Monica White
Joshua Whitcraft
Jeb Winton
Fundraising Goal: $3,500
Age: 26
Bio: For the second consecutive year, Gabe Rose will run the New York City Marathon on behalf of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation to honor his late Uncle, James Delphin, who passed away in 2007 after a long battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Gabe will run in tribute to his uncle’s immediate family, his Aunt Lisa and six cousins (Caitlin, Emma, Naomi, Caleb, Jacob, and Collette).
This is Gabe’s third consecutive New York City marathon. After completing the race in 2008, he approached Waxman’s Millennial Society about the opportunity to run on behalf of the foundation. A match was made, and the rest is history. He is extremely proud to represent the organization.
Gabe would like to thank the following donors:
Deena Aboodi
Joshua Banker
Edward Beaulac
Kylie Davis
Chris Doughtery
Charles Dwyer
Julia Einbond
Thomas Eschbacher
Mark Hochberg
Allen Hyman
Zulekha Inayat
Alissa Jacob
Marc Latenti
Thomas Lightcap
Susan Liu
Larry Manis
Daniel Opallo
Ari Pollack
Diego Pontoriero
Adam Ratner
Cynthia Rose
Eric Rose
Stewart Rose
Zach Rose
Peter Shalek
Brandon Schoettler
William Speck
Benjamin Stein
Matthew Wang
Jarod Were
Philip Willner
Daniel Zeldowich
Arthur Fisher-Zernin
Age: 27
Bio: Before last year, Elliot Weinberg would never have considered himself a runner. An avid boxer, Weinberg decided to change his workout routine on a whim and get in shape by running through the streets of Manhattan. “I started running outside because it allowed me to explore the city,” he said. But soon his short jogs along the Westside Highway turned into 8-10 mile runs over a few short months. He’s even up to running 18-20 miles when he feels like running longer distances. “It started out as a conditioning method, but running has quickly become a passion and a new found joy,” said Weinberg.
After friends suggested that he consider running a marathon, he decided to enter the ING New York City Marathon and will be running in support of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Having attended past fundraising events through the Millennial Society of the Waxman Foundation, Weinberg is familiar with the unique scientific concept that drives the Foundation—reprogramming cancer cells to deliver minimally toxic treatments to cancer patients.
Weinberg has been touched by cancer through the lives of family members and friends. “Unfortunately, cancer affects the lives of many people,” he said. “By running in the New York City marathon this fall, I hope to do what I can to help the cause to find a cure for a disease that affects so many.”
Elliot would like to thank the following donors:
Matthew Bayer
Christopher Berton
Linda Bleck
Marcy Borofsky
Alexander Clavero
Tamara Clavero
David Dellon
Nicole Eshaghpour
Gidi Fisher
Michael Fleischman
Michele Goldenberg
Alissa Jacob
Joel Karotkin
Susan Kaufman
Jenny Kindman
Justin Korval
Steven Loffman
David Luftman
Brian Marcus
David Morrisey
Nella Oddi
Esther Pariser
Gregory Ring
Lindsey Schiffman
Lee Schosid
Steve J. Shapiro
Charles Steerman
Jack & Susan Tolin
David Warren
Clara Weinberg
Eric Weinberg
Andrew Wiener
Ricky Yoselevitz
Fundraising Goal: $3,500
Age: 35
Bio: Ben Hieger heard about Team Waxman through fellow co-worker and Waxman teammate Bryan Rodman. Though Ben has completed two half-marathons in the past, he has never run in a full marathon. The 26.219-mile course will be tough to complete, he admits, but he’s up for the challenge. “My biggest goal is to finish the marathon before P. Diddy’s time of 4 hours and 14 minutes,” he says.
Ben is up to running 10 miles and plans to ramp up his training in the next few months. He considers the hard work all worth it in the end when he thinks about the end goal—raising money for cancer research.
He is running in support of his girlfriend, who lost her father to cancer last year, and in honor of friends and family who have been diagnosed with the disease, including his brother—a six-year survivor of leukemia—and a co-worker who just recently finished treatment. Ben
says he’s come to realize that cancer can strike at any age, so running in the ING New York City marathon is his small part to do what he can to help find a cure.
Ben would like to thank the following donors:
Pam Carden
Jennifer Cimmino
Eric Cosper
Daniel Dougherty
Melissa Downs
Sara Eolin
Jeremy Filgate
Justin Gignac
Barbara Hieger
Allison Klein
Stephen Klinck
Daniel Kroeger
Nick Mark
Jeannine Miller
Kevin Mire
Deborah Nix
Salvatore Pavone
The Pope
Adam & Amy Offen-Reeves
Colleen Sampson
Cathy Shannon
Connie Sieveking
Frederic Simon
Jill Simon
James Splinder
Orlee Tatarka
Amy Wills
Keri Wright
Age: 29
Bio: Kate Forlenza is a new addition to Team Waxman this year. Though she’s never run in a marathon before, she said she’s always wanted to check that off of her bucket list. Thanks to her co-workers and fellow teammates—Ben Hieger, Bryan Rodman and Mike Wasilewski—Forlenza will soon have the chance.
“I decided to run because it has always been my goal to run the NYC marathon by the time I turn 30,” she said. “I also want to run for the people in my life who have been recently diagnosed with cancer and who are long-time survivors.”
Having only run short-distance races in the past, Forlenza is not daunted by the challenge set before her. Training has been tough, but she is slowly getting there. “Every week gets a little easier. I have been wanting to do this for such a long time, and that is what I keep telling myself to push me to the next mile,” said Forlenza.
“I think the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is a great organization. I want to do what ever I can to help the fight.”
Kate would like to thank the following donors:
Linda Adler
Edward Ahearn
Joanne Aitchison
Nancy Albertson
Patrice Bohlen
Kelly Calver
Jessica Ciccarelli
MaryAnn Clark
Philip Forlenza
Stefanie Forlenza
William Forlenza
Margie Giberson
Janis Guash
Michael Icovino
Jiffy Iuen
Jon Kamen
Melanie Minasz
Allison Miniero
Erin Moye
Stephanie Pangia
Frank Senzino
Cathy Shannon
Frederic Simon
Alison Speranza
James Spindler
Frank Ventura
Tara Vittoria
Karen Wilson
Fundraising Goal: $3,500
Age: 33
Bio: As a child growing up in west Texas with asthma, Briana Nix describes herself as the “the kid who couldn’t walk down the street without an inhaler.” Though Nix dreamed of running in a marathon some day, her health was always a concern that held her back from achieving her goal. But after her father died from a rare form of head and neck cancer on Aug. 1, 2009, Nix decided it was time to make her dream a reality. “Last summer, a few months before my dad died, I was talking to him about how I really wanted to run” Nix recalled. “He told me, ‘Give it a shot. I know you can do it.’”
Three months to the day after her dad’s death, Nix realized her father’s prophetic words by finishing her first half marathon. After that, she became hooked on running. Nix is now training for the ING New York City Marathon, and plans to run in honor of her dad and to raise money for the Waxman Foundation. Nix said she was attracted to the Foundation for its innovative research model in studying the biology of cancer across various organ sites. “My dad battled cancer for six years. I know the importance of cancer research. It gives patients and their families much needed hope” she said.
“I’m really excited to run the marathon because it’s something I told my dad I always wanted to do,” she added. “I’m finding so much inspiration during my training knowing that I’m doing it for him and for all the people who loved him so much.”
Briana would like to thank the following donors:
ABS
Eve Bates
Jen Beitler
Ronnie and Donna Bivins
Amanda Boening
Nicholas Bradham
Patrick T. Brady
Sarah Brady
Mollie Cohen
Doyle Crawford
Abigail DeLashmutt
Leib Dodell
Jean Drugan
Sarah Diminich
Cathy Fletcher
Leah Forehand
Brette Harrison
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers–Local 6
Angela Jones
Jennifer Karlin
Catherine Kirschner
Marilee Kyler
John Landry
Robyn Mark
Beth Magee
Deirdre Maloney
Cathy Moore
Michele O’Reilly
Devon O’Rourke
Kim Penick
Kindra Poage
Ilene and Neil Rubinstein
Samara Rubinstein
Estelle Schmones
Jamie Schmones
Lacey Schwartz
Scott Thane Ditching Service
Cathy Shannon
Jill Simon
Olivia Taylor
Mark Testa
Judson Traphagen
Kerry Treadaway
Christopher Turner
Kari K. Zimmerman
Age: 28
Bio: Bryan Rodman (pictured above in center) will be running in his first marathon this year and is excited about the mental and physical challenge ahead of him. Although he never considered himself a runner, Bryan completed a half-marathon in 2008 and was looking to enter into his first marathon until he was sidelined due to a hamstring injury. After a year off from the pavement, Bryan is reinvigorated and up to 10 miles on the weekends in preparation for November. Bryan will be running along side 3 of his co-workers who are also running in support of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.
In December of 2003, while on winter break from his junior year of college, Bryan was diagnosed with melanoma. He has made a full recovery from surgery and has been cancer free for more than five years. It was later in 2005 that long-time friend Joanna Steinberg (pictured above at right), founder of the Foundation’s junior board known as the Millennial Society, approached Rodman to join her in her efforts to engage the young professionals of the greater New York City area in support of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. After learning about Dr. Waxman’s unique approach to combating cancer, Rodman readily agreed to join Steinberg in her endeavors and has been an integral member of the Millennial Society ever since.
“Not everyone is as lucky as I am. I had cancer and the doctors were able to cut it out, it’s not that simple for everyone. We need to find a cure that doesn’t involve excision” Rodman said. “Dr. Waxman’s approach of looking at the causes of cancer instead of just the symptoms, coupled with the idea that scientists must collaborate with each other, gives me great hope that we can overcome cancer in my lifetime. Dr. Waxman is a true pioneer and with more people like him, we are sure to beat this deadly disease.”
Bryan would like to thank the following donors
Arielle Rodman
Cathy Shannon
Frederic Simon
James Spindler