May 24, 2002

From left, Weinstein, Emma and nurse practitioner Patricia Kent, RN.

The Boston Marathon may be over, but the feelings of accomplishment still linger — particularly for the runners who completed the grueling 26.2 miles of the famous race. For 8-year-old Emma Carey, however, the marathon brings out feelings of success of a different kind.

Emma didn't run the marathon, but thanks to her unusual fundraising efforts, she and her classmates raised more than $6,000 for the MassGeneral Marathon Team.

Emma's inspiration came from her own doctor — Howard Weinstein, MD, chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology for MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Emma first met Weinstein in 1997 when she was diagnosed with leukemia at only 3 years old. She was treated successfully by Weinstein and went into remission for four years. Then last summer she was diagnosed with a recurrence. Emma now is fighting leukemia for the second time in her young life.

But with the support of her family, friends and caregivers, Emma is determined to beat her illness. Weinstein was so touched by his young patient's courage that he dedicated his marathon run to her this year. Weinstein has run the marathon for 12 years, and in 1998 he started the MassGeneral Marathon Team — "Fighting Kids' Cancer ... One Step at a Time" — to help raise money for pediatric cancer research at MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

Emma — inspired in turn to raise money for Weinstein and his marathon team — called upon the support of her third-grade classmates from Lincoln Street School in Exeter, NH. She asked every student to bring in 26 coins, one for each mile of the marathon. Emma called the fundraising project "Kids' Coins for Kids" Cancer.

Every day for weeks before the marathon, envelopes filled with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters came pouring in from the students. Emma and a few of her classmates would count them every day. More than $2,000 was raised by the students in coins alone. Additional contributions came from other friends of the Carey family, making a grand total of $6,000 for the marathon team.

According to Emma's parents, Jeff and Tomasen, their daughter's fundraising efforts also helped raise her spirits as she returned to school after undergoing intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. They believe that putting her in charge of the project has helped the healing process.

As for Weinstein, he successfully ran the marathon, and his team raised more than $300,000 this year. He is particularly proud of Emma, not only for her fundraising but also for her love for life and her determination to get well. "She is an amazing little girl," says Weinstein. "And we are going to defeat this disease for good this time."