Update: On November 15, 2013, Laurie passed away. She was a beautiful person and a wonderful friend. She was courageous and fought this battle with grace and dignity. She touched so many people’s lives with her warmth and generosity. She will be dearly missed. This is what was written on the New York Road Runners website: http://www.nyrr.org/remembering-laurie-harris
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Laurie Harris is a very dear friend. She is also a beautiful person and an amazing warrior. She has been fighting Pancreatic Cancer since her diagnosis almost two years ago.
On August 10, 2013, on Roosevelt Island, New York, my local running team, the New York Flyers has organized a 5K race, in Laurie’s honor, entitled the Laurie Harris Hope & Dreams 5K Race Against Pancreatic Cancer – benefiting Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Registration is $25. Would you consider running or donating?
You can read more about Laurie, the race, and register HERE.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
We love you Laurie!
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
As I tweeted to you, both pancreatic cancer and Sloan Kettering are part of my personal history too. My dad was cured at Sloan – he lived a wonderful 18 years after he was treated there for throat cancer. Sadly, like your friend Laurie, my sister succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
It is traditional in my family/faith to say, when hearing of a death, “May her memory serve as a blessing.” While remembering your friend now must bring tears to your eyes and much sadness, I hope that as time goes on your memories of her will bring not just sadness but some joy and inspiration, as the good times you shared will live in your memories and your heart.
It is a sad time for me too. We are remembering a dear friend who died a year ago yesterday. I can assure you that much as I miss Anne, her memory surely serves as a blessing. It has been amazing to watch her young adult kids continue in her footsteps – she was an amazing community volunteer – and they preserve her memory in all they do. None of us have forgotten her but we have also found the strength to carry on and to honor her memory in how we do that. From what you’ve written and posted, I am sure those in Laurie’s circle will do that too. Hugs!
Meanwhile, we continue to have crummy weather in PDX. You better come back!
Thank you so much Elaine. Suffering a loss is odd. I feel strangely selfish, knowing others have suffered so much worse. Your words are so comforting, and real at the same time. Yes, let her memory serve as a blessing, just as the memory of your friend Anne and your sister has. That reminds me of the heartache I felt a number of years ago when my cousin passed away. That same day, I attended a bris. The ying-yang of life and death never made so much sense as that day. Sorry about the weather – there are some things we just can’t control!