WE ARE BASEHOAR’S BRAINIACS & MAINE~IACS!

And we are so looking forward to being together again “up close and personal” at the 25th Anniversary of RACE FOR HOPE DC on Sunday, May 1st in our Nation’s Capitol! This will be our team’s 13th “Family Reunion” at Race For Hope DC!

Each year, we gather at the corner of 13 and a half street and Pennsylvania Avenue in loving memory of our beloved Richie . . . husband, father of Nittany (our kitty kid), brother, uncle, cousin and friend. In 2009, Rich was diagnosed with GBM, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. For 21 months we, were by his side as he battled through 2 brain surgeries, 30 days of radiation, months of chemotherapy and 5 clinical trials at Johns Hopkins & NIH, a gazillion blood draws, manic episodes, doctor appointments, MRI’s, CT Scans, PET Scan’s, steroids, hospital stays, hair loss, memory loss, peripheral vision loss and on and on. Through it all though, Rich was, himself . . . smart, funny, self-deprecating, calming, gregarious. I like to say he was “VINTAGE RICH.” As his good friend Paulie so aptly said of Rich, “he taught us how to live and he showed us how to die.” He did indeed.

As excruciatingly wearisome as this disease is, we were so amazed at how the journey itself seemed to bring out the best in all of us. We felt so blessed and humbled by the love and support that surrounded us in the most difficult time of our lives.

And so, WHY do we participate in Race For Hope DC every year? We do it to remember Rich and to honor his legacy to be sure, but we do it to help fund research to find a cure for others who are diagnosed with brain cancer and brain tumors. We are . . . “Raising Hope!” 

Thank you for supporting our efforts!

Love, Bridget & Li'l Miss Nittany