Miles for Moffitt Under Way Today (May 12)

The "Ken-Ducky-Derby" held May 5 at O'Brien's Irish Pub and restaurant in Brandon surpassed its fundraising goal for the "Fire-Breathing Rubber Duckies" team that today, May 12, will be walking at Miles for Moffitt.

"The amount of money raised was beyond our goal of $5,000," said pub co-owner Sean Rice, in a news release. "We raised $7,755 from the duck derby and roughly $1,400 more for the Miles for Moffit walk [May 12]."

More than 60 people would be walking with the "Fire-Breathing Rubber Duckies," he said, at the Miles for Moffitt walk at the University of South Florida.

Chair of the team effort is Dani Grey.

"She is an amazing lady, who through the loss of her mother [has touched] many hearts," Rice said. "Since it's Mothers Day weekend, I thought it's fitting to let you know the angels we are surrounded by and the good they do."

Toward that end, Rice forwarded the Facebook post below from Grey:

"When you become a parent, you automatically start to think about your legacy. What will you teach your children? What will you pass on? What lasting images will you imprint on your child's soul? I was blessed with two amazing parents and two 'bonus' parents, so to list all of the things that my parents have taught me would be nearly impossible. The bonds I have with them are unique and special, each in their own way. Unfortunately, some of those lasting memories I have of my mother are of taking her to chemo treatments, sitting with her while she was sick and trying to hold on to her as she slipped away. I know that she would hate it that these are the things that I think of, but these are the facts and so now I am left with what to do with these memories . . . and left with the question of what I will pass on to my own children.

'Today, I choose to use these memories to inspire me to action. We can sit back and hope that one day some scientist finds a cure for cancer or we can be active in helping that scientist find that cure. I choose to fight the best way I know how, by fundraising for one of the best cancer centers in the country, the one that gave my mother such great care and, I believe, gave me more time with her: [the] Moffitt Cancer Center. Moffitt doesn't just give chemo and radiation, they have researchers and scientists that developed personalized cancer medicines. Chemo is not a one size fits all. They have state-of-the-art laboratories and outpatient clinics. They have a passion for their patients that was evident to me and my family. Walk in the door of Moffitt and ask anyone you see that works there what their job is and they will tell you, 'patient care.'

"This is what I choose to pass on to my children, to not sit by and let life unfold around you, but take action, create and inspire others. On May 12th, my family, friends and I will walk the 5k Miles for Moffitt for the second year in a row. This year with help from all three O'Brien's Irish Pubs, the Sirens, many sponsors and our community, we raised $7,755. Thank you so much to everyone involved."

Grey concluded her post with a promise to post soon a list of the businesses that supported the effort.