Jessica Shepard Watts, PhD

Sorry for the long post, but this is super important. This is my sweet daughter, Francesca, one month before she died of brain cancer.She never got the chance to build the life and legacy she deserved, so we are building one in her name. Over the past six years, Team Beans has raised $3.7 million for infant brain tumor research. This year, we’ve raised $77,000 toward our $100,000 goal for Dana-Farber, and we are just $23,000 away. I cannot overstate how important this funding is to Francesca’s doctors and researchers. It has already made a real difference: a clinical trial and registry for her type of cancer were created entirely because of the people who supported Team Beans. Francesca was so full of life, even when she was sick. After watching this terrible disease take my child, helping find a cure became the cause of my life. I ran two Boston Marathons to raise money, and I would run one every day if it meant helping cure this disease. Now, I ride the Pan-Mass Challenge every year for Francesca and for every baby still fighting. Please consider supporting Team Beans in the PMC. Donate, share this post, or tell someone Francesca’s story. Every gift matters. For Francesca. For every baby still fighting. profile.pmc.org/AK0302