This fundraising page is in memory of my mother-in-law, Sandra Wright, who was the most loving mother and wife, and the strongest woman I have ever met. 

In 2018, Sandy passed away after a long battle with triple-negative breast cancer, an incredibly aggressive and difficult to treat phenotype. To celebrate her life and follow in the footsteps of my amazing father-in-law, Steve Wright, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and fundraising with MSKCC as Steve hikes the Appalacian Trail and fundraises in parallel. This has been a lifelong dream of mine and Steve's, and a dream that I know Sandy had hoped to experience with our family. 

I chose to team up with MSKCC as Sandy was treated by the amazing clinicians there, and donated her tissues to research labs at MSKCC to support triple negative breast cancer research. My hope is that the money raised on this page will enable the research community to work towards bettering the lives of patients and families who have been effected by this aggressive cancer so that they may see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Your support means the world to our family - thank you!

Tommy Novak

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The Pacific Crest trail is one of the longest hiking-only footpaths in the world measuring 2,653 mi (4,270 km) long and ranges in elevation from roughly 110 feet (34 m) above sea level along the Columbia River Gorge to 13,153 feet (4,009 m) in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks, and the elevation gain is equivalent to hiking Mt Everest 17 times over across the average 5 months required to complete the trail.

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I will be documenting my journey on a monthly basis on LinkedIn - Follow the LinkedIn account below to track my journey, receive my updates from the trail, and help me spread the word! Please send me an email if you would like to receive updates but are not on social media.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-novak-42920014
Email - tjnovak2011@gmail.com

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Donors Fuel Progress

 When you give to MSK, you're making a direct impact: from innovative research that can move newly discovered drugs into clinical trials, to the cancer treatment and care patients receive every day.

 Fundraising efforts can lead to important and life-changing breakthroughs in cancer research—making it possible for scientists to overcome the hurdles of funding gaps. Philanthropy provides the tools they need to swiftly pursue promising research initiatives.

MSK Leads Cancer Care

 Your gift supports the best and brightest researchers in their work to outsmart cancer. These innovative thinkers are focused on fighting every form of the disease. The close collaboration between MSK's doctors and researchers is unique and one of its greatest strengths—ensuring that drugs and therapies developed in the lab can be moved quickly to the clinic.

 Together, we can join the leaders in cancer research by funding a future with better outcomes for people with cancer and their families—not just at MSK, but around the world.

Every dollar brings more hope. Thank you!