July 18, 2003

An icy plunge with a purpose

Perhaps the icy cold water was a little more fitting for polar bears, but that didn't stop the Humarock Hurricanes from taking a plunge New Year's Day to raise money for lung cancer research at the MGH.

When the clock struck noon, the fifth annual New Year's Day dip drove scores of people into the frigid water of Humarock Beach in Scituate, Mass. This year's event raised more than $10,000, which was donated to the molecular epidemiology of lung cancer research project, led by David Christiani, MD, of the MGH Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit.

The annual event was coordinated by Geri McEachern, whose brother, Brian, a Boston firefighter for more than 30 years, died from lung cancer in 2000 at the age of 57. McEachern herself donated $1,000 to the project. "Our mission is to help raise awareness about issues pertaining to lung cancer and support the research that is essential to understanding and eliminating this disease," she says.

"I was delighted that the group chose to raise money for my research," says Christiani. "The funds help to enhance work on lung cancer prevention and control that are not covered by the NIH-funded portions of the project. I applaud the efforts of these supporters to draw more attention to lung cancer research." For more information, visit www.Humarock.net