Boston Marathon 2011

Tom's Personal Fundraising page

Creator: Tom Burke


Please sponsor me:


Help me reach my goal of: $10,000
So far I've raised: $7,600

Why I'm fundraising for the Joslin Diabetes Center

This year I will be running my 3rd consecutive Boston Marathon. This year I chose to run for the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. As many of you know, my brother and sister have been deeply impacted by Type 1 Diabetes.

When diagnosed with this disease, my brother and sister took great care of themselves. Despite this they have faced many challenges because of their diabetes. My sister Linda (pictured to the right) suffered with terrible kidney and neuropathy issues. These complications proved too much for her body to handle and she passed away at the age of 24.
 
My brother Michael has not had it much easier as he has already gone through 3 major heart operations and is on the waiting list for both a pancreas and kidney.  We had a near miss on April 6th.  A 23 year old man was shot in the head and in their terrible moment of loss, the young man's family graciously allowed his organs to be donated to those in need.  My brother was minutes from surgery when he learned that the donor's pancreas was not viable.  It was a very sad moment for a lot of reasons but the most tragic to me was the fact that a 23 year old boy had to die to give my brother a chance without diabetes.  That is just sad to me!  Since his kidneys will not hold up much longer, I will be giving him my kidney on June 7th.
 
While we wait for that, I could not have found a better way to occupy my time than to train for another marathon and at the same time raise money for the good people at Joslin who are desperately trying to find a cure for Diabetes other than organ transplantation. In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the researchers there and have been overwhelmed by their commitment and confidence they have in their pursuit of a cure for this disease. All money raised will go towards the High Hopes Fund at Joslin which supports their ground-breaking research.

I am grateful that I have been blessed with great health and can help my brother and others impacted by Diabetes. I know you are asked to help so many worthy causes, I hope you will consider helping me raise funds to support the Joslin Diabetes Center’s effort to prevent and cure this disease. As I did two years ago, I will run a mile in honor or memory of any of your friends or family impacted by Diabetes.


Thank you,


Tom
 
P.S.  If you are not comfortable making an on-line donation but would still like to contribute, feel free to make a check out to Joslin Diabetes Center-High Hopes Fund and mail it to me at 57 Franklin St., Duxbury MA 02332

My sponsors to date:

Name Amount Message
Jay Sutherland $50 Great job Tom!
Heather Foster $50 Good luck Tommy!!
Michael and Michelle Kane $50 Good Luck Tom!
Nicole and Peter Radulski $100 Good Luck Tommy!
John and Stephanie Reed $50 Good Luck and thanks for everything you do to help others!
Cheri Burke $50 Thanks! From all of us effected by diabetes, Cheri
Laura Kee Wade $50
Gina Mattivello $100
Alice Sloan $20
Joanne Mattivello $100
Kathy Tougas $100 God Bless Tom for his outstanding efforts in running the marathon for the third time for another worthy cause ! Stay Healthy, Tom, you are very courageous.
Cindy Robichaud $20
Phil and Cynthia Caliendo $100
Phil and Susie Caliendo $50
Mary Beth and Pat Nichols Burke $60
Brandon and Shannon, Lily and Noah Partenza $100 Run Burkey Run!
Lisa Burke and Frank Zanes $100 Good luck, Cuz!
Takeda Matching Gift $500
Jessica and Cory Boisvert $100 Best of luck to you! Thanks for all you do!
Tom Burke $250 In memory of the 23 yr old man who died Wednesday April 6th and to his parents for offering the gift of life by allowing his organs to be donated!
Michael and Caroline Bonner $50 Good Luck, Burkey! Mike & Caroline
Sarah and Joe Mattivello $100 Good Luck
Kyle and Danielle Shenk $100 Be strong, finish strong...
Amy Armstrong $50 Will be thinking of you, Linda and your family on the 18th. Good luck!
Jake Joyce $100 I am very impressed that you are doing this. Thank you. My wife has type 1 and her mother passed because of it.
Mary Brown $100
Francine Hundley $25
Scott MacQuarrie $25
Carole McHugh $50
Francine Mollica $25
Tammy Punko $25
Mary Spear $25
Helen and Pete Morrison $150 Good luck from your favorite Godmother!!
Nicky Muzrim $50 You are an inspiration!
Martine Anderson $25 Best of luck to you Tom and prayers will be with you and our college friend Michael for the operations.
Cara and Tony Sgroi $100 Good Luck with the race! More importantly we wish you and Michael the best with the transplant! God Bless you both!
Jenna Palka $50 All the best to you and your family Tom...
James Flanagan $100 Good luck and God Bless
Josh Tobin $25 Good luck, Burkie
Naomi Hill $50 Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Hulda O'Neil $25 Best if luck from the parents of Kelly O'Neil White
sheryl mcgarry $50
John and Jane Burke $50
Sheryl and Jason Aldinger $50 Good luck with the Marathon Burkey...you are going to do great!
Heather Morrison and Mike and Michaela Bland $100 Go cuz go! I can't believe you're doing this again!!!
Giulia Genatossio $50 Tommy, great cause and good luck. Genatossio
Jennifer Anderson $50 You are an inspiration to so many people.
Anonymous $25 Go get um Tom
Scott Whitaker $100
Kevin and Elizabeth Williams $100 Keep fighting the good fight, Tommy!
Kate and Ray St. Martin $100 Good luck Tom!
Anonymous $100 A noble cause!
Melissa Williams $100 Good Luck with the Marathon, I am sure you will do great!!!
Kristine Cotoia $100
Mark and Jen Trodden $50 Good Luck Tom! Have a great run!
Holly Wallace $20 Great luck, Tom! Your story brought tears to MY eyes!
John McCarthy $55 Proud of you Burkey.
Robert and Terre McKinney $100 Tom - great dedication and a true inspiration to so many!
Rita and Pena Jokiaho $100 Tom: Best of luck! This one is in honor of my Grandma who had diabetes and wishing you and your brother a very safe and quick recovery! God bless you both!
Sabrina and Bob Nicholson $100 In memory of Linda. Good luck Tommy!
Jodi and Kurt Benson $100 In memory of Linda Marie Burke
Kevin Moore $50
Rick Brown $50 You rock, cuz! Good luck with the marathon. Your hard work and dedication is an inspiration.
James Fitch $100 I hope you finish this year!!
Thomas and Samantha and Samantha Dearborn $100 You are an inspiration Amigo!
Tom & Rose Kane $100 Good luck in the marathon and reaching your goal.I will have to run with you some year in the Boston Marathon.
Kim Armstrong $30 Good luck Tommy! XOXO
Craig Picard $100 Thank you Tom for leading the charge to fight this devastating disease.
Amanda George $30 good luck tom!
Janelle Casella $20 I wish I could give more, Tom. My brother is impacted by diabetes as well and with all of the work you have been doing I am sure it will make an impact in his life.
Terry Dimick $20 All the best Tom
Karen Morrison $50 You rock, T! Go get em'! Love, cuz Karen
Mary & Tom Kane $100
Sarah and Devon Pettitt $75 Tom- You rock. Thanks for supporting this cause.
Rosanne Rubino $25 W@ish I could do more
Teri and Richard Ginsburg $100 Rooting for you and Mike Tommy! Go get 'em!!
EJ Durgin $100
Justin and Holly Walsh $100
Ed Pyrro $25 Have a great run Burkey!
Cindi Crawford $50 Good luck, Tom - can't believe you are doing this again!
Dina Meuse $100 Good luck...I'll race ya to the finish;)
Audra and Michael and Michael Small $100 You are seriously awesome! Good luck, Tom!
Ryan and Tricia Richard $50 Good Luck & God Bless you.
Michael Demosthenous $50
Whitney Orwig and Sean Casey $150 Good Luck Burkey!!
Kelly and Matthew White $100 Tom, Best of Luck. You are truly an amazing individual.
Anonymous $50 A noble cause, best of luck!
Mark Hausherr $200 Good luck Tom! The Joslin doctors were tremendous when I was diagnosed as a kid.
Catherine McClellan $25 Good luck Tom! I wish I could give more.
Karen Kane Williams $100 Best of luck!
Michael and Christine Burke $100
Bridget Burke $100
Tom Burke $500

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