Honoring determination, faculty member works to stay healthy, support her caregivers
Achy muscles and sore joints are enough to stop most runners from their training, but nothing is stopping Professor Teresa Fitts, D.P.E., of the Movement Science Department from her Boston Marathon training.
Not even a Stage IV Thymic Carcinoma diagnosis.
“As an exercise science professional, I know that there is clear evidence that exercise is linked to survivorship and greater quality of life when undergoing cancer treatments,” Dr. Fitts says.
She had just reached a pivotal point in her training for this year’s Boston Marathon (see related stories Pages 8, 9), completing a 16-mile run the week before she learned of her diagnosis. Now a patient at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Fitts still plans to participate in the 2014 Boston Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Boston Marathon Team in April after completing her fourth round of chemotherapy and 30 treatments of radiation.
She is one of many faculty members who run to stay healthy and to support causes they believe in.
Dr. Fitts has completed a dozen half marathons and many 10ks, but this will be her first marathon. Her goal had been to raise $10,000 for the cancer institute, but at press time, she had already surpassed that goal by nearly $1,500.
Inspired by Dr. Fitts’ dedication, two of her students decided to organize a local 5K run in April to honor her. Brittni Peck ’14 and Sean Vanzant ’14 organized T’s Village 5K Run/2 Mile Walk to Conquer Cancer as part of their internship at STRIDES, a fitness facility specializing in youth fitness programs in Northampton. The proceeds will benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Peck and Vanzant say they organized the event around Dr. Fitts to honor her for all that she has done for them and for other students in the department.
“As a person, one word to describe her is passionate,” Vanzant says. “It is not hard to see how much she loves her job, as well as each one of her students. She is always willing to go the extra mile for anyone.”
“Dr. Fitts is a strong, kind woman who is inspiring to all,” Peck says. She has done so much for us that we decided to honor this race after her, and we will do whatever it takes to make it the best event for Dr. Fitts.”
Dr. Fitts plans to participate in the walk and is grateful for the support she has received both on and off campus.
“I have been blown away by the number of people who have reached out to me and my family during this time,” Dr. Fitts says. “I am also very grateful to be able to take one day at a time, as there are so many things out of my control.”
Here’s a look at a handful of other faculty members who run to support the community, and in
so doing, support each other. Many of them have been inspired by Dr. Fitts – before her diagnosis, and since.
Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon
Claudia Ciano-Boyce of the Psychology Department has competed in the Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon in the Berkshires for eight years; she ran for four years in the 1980s before rallying her fellow Westfield State colleagues to participate.
The “Josh” is a triathlon of biking, kayaking and running held in the Berkshires every year. Dr. Ciano-Boyce has participated in all of the elements of the race, though not in the same year. This year, Dr. Ciano-Boyce’s team for the September 2013 race was dismantled last minute due to a series of unfortunate events, but she had no cause to complain. She had already participated in two triathlons over the summer: the “Oh My Goddard” Sprint Triathlon in Rhode Island in June and the Westborough Sprint Triathlon in August. The Josh motto, “to finish is to win,” has been adopted by the various teams who have taken part in it over the years, often with hilarious stories attached. Dr. Ciano-Boyce says, “It makes for a stronger community at Westfield State, and these faculty and staff often populate their teams with family and friends so the Westfield State community extends out. Now, the Josh stories are recalled throughout the year with threats from team to team to ‘just wait until next year!’” Faculty who run in the Josh include: Buzz Hoagland, Biology; Phil Hotchkiss, Mathematics; Ted Welsh, Mathematics; Joey Reyes, Psychology; Michael Vorwerk, Environmental Science; Karen Vorwerk, Mathematics; Goopeel Chung, Computer and Information Science; Karen Works, Computer and Information Science; Michael Foyle, Public Safety; Vanessa Diana, English; Larry Griffith, Computer and Information Science; Janet Gebelt, Psychology; Joe Camilleri, Psychology; Roger Tudor, Psychology; Stan Jackson, Psychology; Rebecca Burwell, Psychology; Julian Fleron, Mathematics; Summer Williams, Psychology; Eric Bressler, Psychology; Sandra Berkowitz, Education; Dr. Fitts, Movement Science; and Bob Hayes, Psychology.
Janet Garcia, Director of Marketing
Hot Chocolate Run
Janet Garcia, director of the Marketing Department, has participated in the Hot Chocolate Run for Northampton’s Safe Passage for the past two years. Roughly 30 University faculty, staff and students take part and are rewarded with team hats. Unfortunately, Garcia was unable to run in the race this past December, as she was already signed up for another race that day in Cambridge—the Winter Classic 5K to benefit Cambridge Family and Children’s Services. Garcia races to stay fit, starting several years ago after volunteering in Dr. Fitts’ movement science class. “Through the class, I learned about a triathlon sprint that was taking place that spring. I signed up and began training and have not stopped exercising since,” she says.
Vanessa Diana, English
Run Stanley
Vanessa Diana of the English Department crafted the idea of the Run/ Walk Stanley 5K, promoting awareness of damages to the wilderness areas in Stanley Park over the past year from extreme weather. Dr. Diana has been an active participant in road races – including the Boston Marathon – but this cause struck a little closer to home. Literally. Dr. Diana lives next door to the park, often using its trails for her daily exercise. She decided something needed to be done after noticing that one of the bridges deep in the woods was lopsided, nearly impossible to cross.
