On March 6,1999 Rodney A. Knight passed away of throat cancer. Three years after being diagnosed, 14 years after being smoke free.

Rod Knight was a Senior Research Fellow at CUNO, Inc. (formerly a division of AMF, Inc.) where he had worked for 40 years of his professional life. He had a blend of personal humor, fairness, justice and self-depreciation that drew people from all over to him. His accomplishments include the invention of a special class of membrane filters which are now used worldwide to prepare sterile solutions for medical uses, treatment of pharmaceuticals, filtration of fine beverages, and purification of chemicals used in the manufacturing of microprocessors. Rod had been granted several patents for these purposes, and new uses are being found for these membrane devices to this day.

On October 23,1999 I will be running the Dublin City Marathon in Ireland, in honor of Rodney A. Knight, my father. I am part of a very special team paying tribute to Fred Lebow, race director of the New York City Marathon for 25 years. Fred’s Team was created in honor of Fred Lebow by the New York Road Runner’s Club and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The Team continues Fred’s legacy to raise money for the Aubrey Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research. However; the funds I raise will go towards throat cancer research in my fathers name at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

This will be my first marathon since 1995. I have since remarried and had two more children, Devon and Julia, I train with them in a running stroller. I have two older children Nate, who will occasionally run with us and Jared, who likes to ride his bike along side us. I also have the love and support of my husband Dyrak, my mother Carol and my mother-in-law Debbie, without them this wouldn’t be possible.

The strength and determination needed to run this marathon pales to the strength and determination that my Dad and Fred Lebow showed fighting cancer. They both put up a fight til the end and I plan to continue their fight against this terrible disease. My dad has taught me many things, above of all to finish what you start and always expect more of yourself. I promise to do just that. I will run this marathon with my dad in my heart, knowing he’ll be proud of my accomplishment and with me every step of the way.

Will you please help me make a difference in other cancer patients lives? Any donation will be appreciated. My goal is to raise $5,000 with corporate and individual sponsors. With your contribution I’m sure to reach that goal.

Thank You,