Mandy and Caroline Freer are sisters-in-law who ran the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as members of the MMRF Team for Cures program in honor of Mandy’s husband and Caroline’s brother, Matt. Matt was diagnosed in August 2015. At the time of diagnosis, he was just shy of his 33rd birthday. His son was 3 years old, and his daughter was almost 6 months old.
As a caregiver, Mandy has watched her husband smile through clenched teeth during a bone marrow biopsy, collapse on the couch in utter exhaustion, and roll down his sleeves to cover the Band-Aids from the needle pokes. While she can entertain the kids, drive him to appointments and offer a smile after a long day of treatment, she still feels there’s more to be done to help both him and others fight this battle.
As sisters, Caroline and Emily do their best from afar to bring joy and laughter and connection into infusion days and hospital stays. They try to recognize the challenges of ongoing cancer treatment while also bringing focus to all the things their brother is beyond a cancer patient. “Running/fundraising for the MMRF feels like the most direct way I can help in a role that can sometimes feel so helpless,” Caroline commented.
The Freer family has been actively involved with advancing a cure through the MMRF Team for Cures 5K Walk/Run and marathon program, raising critical awareness and funds.
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