Moe Strong: Thanking a Great Community

By Guest

Moe White poses for a photo with members of her CrossFit HomeBase family during the recent “Barbells for Boobs” fundraiser held in her honor at the gym in October.

Dear Editor:

I started with CrossFit HomeBase, a local gym on Turnpike Street, a few months after it opened about seven years ago. Truth be told, I was a little leery at first, thinking it would be a gym with “muscle heads” walking around stopping at every mirror to flex! Boy was I wrong. There are a variety of ages (a few older than I am), shapes and sizes, colors and backgrounds … and no mirrors! My daughter Kelly and I checked it out and signed up that very day. Within two weeks, my three other children joined too.

CFHB (along with Crossfit gyms throughout the country) has been organizing a breast cancer awareness fundraiser every October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has supported this great cause every year. I was excited, yet humbled that on Saturday, October 26, they coordinated the “Barbells for Boobs” fundraiser to honor me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July, have had surgery and just finished chemotherapy and will be starting on radiation treatments soon. I’m doing great thanks to all of the love and support I have received.

I find it mindboggling that everyone is touched by cancer, especially in this day and age. You cannot find anyone that doesn’t have a family member, friend or co-worker who doesn’t have some form of cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime alone. I do not even know the stats for men, but during one of my recent chemo infusions, my daughter and I counted six men being treated for breast cancer! It’s so “common” that the entire ninth floor at Dana-Farber is dedicated to the treatment of breast cancer alone.

Our Homebase “Barbells for Boobs“ fundraiser could not have been more perfect. It was an incredible day. We had great company, a quick workout, raffles, catered food, DJ, special shirts, and a beautiful day. There was even a workout for the kids; a jumpy house and even Fire Chief Doody allowed a fire engine for the kids to explore. I’m so grateful to have such an amazing community behind me. I don’t know how to begin to thank everyone in this awesome town. Bobby Kiernan, owner and coach at CFHB, and Laura Donahue (like a ninja, mostly behind the scenes gathering businesses’ support, donations and organizing raffles) you both are amazing! They organized and planned this incredible day in a matter of weeks. I still don’t know how they did it! Coaches Dan Greenfield and Justin Mettlach have always supported and stood by me and adjusted my workouts. All of the coaches were good sports when we had our mini fundraiser of “Burpees for Boobs.” I cannot thank enough Darlene Cartagena, an amazingly talented chef and owner of Randolph Café for taking the time out of a busy Saturday from her restaurant, spending the entire afternoon catering her delicious food; Paula Wedge for selling customized shirts and running the raffles; Caroline Titus (watch out Gary!) for DJing like a rock star all afternoon; our “finest” Canton Police Department and Fire Chief Doody and our heroes, the Canton Fire Department and the numerous firefighters who came and showed their support, with three of them participating in the workout; Ola Marczak for photographing the events all day; Pat Brodigan for his generous donation and allowing us to continue with our celebration at the Turnpike Café; Katie Spiegel and my hospital, NEBH, for donating to the raffle and all of the people who donated money and raffles to this great cause. Thank you all so much!

I firmly believe that anyone can go through surgery, chemo, and radiation treatments, but you have to have the right frame of mind and that it’s more “mental” going through this whole experience. I’m the seventh of eight kids (those Irish Catholics!) and my parents raised us with the belief that faith and family were the most important things in life. I would like to add “friends.” I am so blessed to have such a loving and supportive husband, the best and most amazing kids, family and friends … my Homebase family and the town of Canton. I do not know how to thank you all for the love, support and prayers that you have given me … keep them coming. They help more than you’ll ever know.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so very much!

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Maureen (Moe) White

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