Bob Rebello’s Worldwide Marathons

Bob Rebello’s Commitment:

To raise $100,000 for kidney cancer research at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center [BIDMC] in Boston, Massachusetts in memory of my brother, and best friend, John by finishing worldwide marathons on 7 continents. To ensure that 100% of the donations go directly to kidney cancer research I pay all of the expenses associated with raising the funds.

Commitment Status:

I have raised $72,336.20 and finished marathons in 11 countries – USA, Ireland, France, Monaco, Hungary, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, Argentina, Germany, and Sweden and on 5 continents - North America, Europe, Australia, Asia & South America. I have also finished 4 marathons in the U.S. as part of my fundraising efforts, this makes a total of 15 marathons that I have finished for kidney cancer research. I am committed to finishing my last 2 continents:  Cape Town South Africa-6th continent[09/26/2010],  Antarctica-7th continent [03/10/2011].

I have finished the 11th year of my 14-year commitment to bring awareness about kidney cancer around the world by finishing marathons on 7 continents. During that time I have put in close to 22,000 training and marathon miles, flown 126,856 miles, my monthly e-mail newsletter goes out to 30 US States and a number of foreign countries, and my website has received visits from 40 US states and 49 foreign countries.

“ When you make a commitment to a cause it is a binding pledge that you will dedicate yourself 100% to ensure the success of the cause.”

“Failure to meet your commitment is not an option.”

Bob Rebello – Just an ordinary guy.

Worldwide Marathons Background

On May 23rd 1999, my 63rd birthday, I made a commitment to raise $100k for kidney cancer research by finishing marathons on 7 continents in memory of my brother, and best friend, John who lost his battle with kidney cancer on February 27, 1999.  John was able to live for four extra years because of the kidney cancer expertise and dedication of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center staff. For more than three years I accompanied my brother John to his chemotherapy sessions at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where I witnessed the caring, skills, and dedication of  his doctors and nurses.

I run worldwide marathons to raise money for kidney cancer research because in the United States 51,000 are diagnosed with kidney cancer annually and 13,000 die annually of kidney cancer – there are reportedly 200,000 alive with kidney cancer.

BIDMC Kidney Cancer Research Update

The last 5 years has seen a virtual revolution in the treatment and outcome of patients with advanced kidney cancer. Research within the Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Kidney Cancer Program and SPORE grant has helped elucidate the biology of kidney cancer leading either directly or indirectly to the government approval of 5 new drugs for the treatment of patients with this disease. These therapies have contributed to an improvement in life expectancy for patients with kidney cancer from a median of 13 months in 2002 to in excess of 26 months in 2008.

50 US States Kidney Cancer Awareness Challenge

One of the challenges that we will have over the next 24 months is to bring kidney cancer awareness to all of the 50 US States. If we are to meet this challenge we need to receive donations from the 23 US States that have not donated. On 12/17/09 we received a donation for our 27th US State the donation came from the great state of PA - thank you Jonathan. I believe the challenge will be met if each of us contacts someone they know in the Red states and let them know about the efforts that we are making to help in finding a cure for this deadly disease.

The 23 US States that have not donated are in Red.

AL, AK, AR, CO, DE, HI, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MS, MT, NV, ND, OK, OR, SD, TN, TX, VT, WV, WY

The 26 US States that have donated are in Green.

I would greatly appreciate your sponsorship of my 12th worldwide marathon that I will run in Capetown, South Africa on September 26, 2010 to raise money for kidney cancer research at BIDMC’s Biologic Therapy Program in memory of my brother John.

Although these are difficult times I am very optimistic that with the continued support and encouragement of people like you we will meet this year’s donation goal of $10,000.00 for such a worthy cause. As of 02/03/010 we have raised $100.00 for the Capetown marathon and we now have surpassed our donations milestone of $70,000.00. During the 11-year quest to raise money for kidney cancer research I have received a total of 948 donations from people living in 27 U.S. states and 1 foreign country [Amsterdam, Netherlands]. We are only 52 donations away from reaching our next donations milestone of receiving 1,000 donations. I am confident that with your help we will reach the 1,000 donations milestone this year.

For your information I have broken down the 2010 Capetown, South Africa marathon for kidney cancer research donations by the month they were made.

I hope that you will continue to support me in the fight against kidney cancer by donating to this years Stockholm marathon. If your company has a Matching Gifts Program I encourage you to use the program to help in the fight against kidney cancer. Donations will be accepted up to December 31, 2010. For your information the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centers Tax ID# is 042-103-881.

The results of the research done at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will help people throughout the United States that have kidney cancer.

Have a great day,

Bob Rebello