This is my second year running the NYC marathon with Team McGraw and I am honored to have the opportunity again. I am running in memory of my husband, Jeffrey Patrick Waters. Jeff was the love of my life and my best-friend for 13 years. He was a very quiet man with a knack for delivering one line zingers when you least expected it. He was extremely intelligent, gentle, humble, and kind, with a slightly mischievous side and a brilliant sparkle in his eyes. On January 5, 2004, Jeff was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme...ironically, also the day Tug McGraw lost his life to the same illness. Jeff fought a courageous 4 yr. battle and passed away in Nov. 2007 at the age of 42.

During his fight against brain cancer, Jeff endured four craniotomies, weeks of radiation therapy, over a dozen different chemotherapies, two cerebral hemorrhages, and months of rehabilitation. Through everything, he never lost his gentle, uncomplaining spirit and his incredible smile. His hope and determination were unwavering.

Through much of his illness, Jeff was able to continue cycling, skiing, hiking, go-kart racing, and working part-time as an environmental engineer. He tested the limits of what others believed possible with his condition, but he did it with humility. Jeff was a hero, who truly had no idea how much he inspired his family, friends, doctors, and other cancer patients with his strength, positive attitude, and accomplishments while battling brain cancer. As his wife, one of my proudest moments was seeing Jeff complete the American Cancer Society Bike-A-thon just the day before going to Duke for his 3rd craniotomy. Jeff dedicated his ride to a friend's 11 yr. old son who had recently lost a 6 yr. battle with leukemia. When asked at the finishline to speak to the press about his battle with brain cancer, he refused. For Jeff, his ride wasn't about himself and being a cancer survivor, it was about honoring the memory and relentless battle fought by a child. That was the kind of man that Jeff was...always humble, never self-centered.

When local doctors thought Jeff was at the end of his life and that he would not walk again and required hospice, he proved them wrong. He survived another 5 months with good quality of life, learning to walk again while on homecare. He never gave up. He always believed that surviving glioblastoma was possible. I asked him once how he dealt with his illness so well and his response was "I don't want to have this, but I do. It's what I've been dealt and I have no choice but to live with it. I refuse to worry about what I can't change." That was truly how Jeff lived his life...with a smile on his face and refusing to worry about what was out of his hands.

Jeff participated in several studies sponsored by the Tug McGraw Center for Neuro-Oncology Quality of Life Research at Duke University. He was committed to improving quality of life for brain tumor patients and to being part of the cure, if not for himself, for others.

Jeff epitomized the "Ya Gotta Believe" spirit and I am thrilled to be running in NY with Team McGraw again this year to honor such an amazing man. Thank you for your contribution in memory of Jeff and toward improving quality of life for brain tumor patients.