Team IMPACT: Meet John Howick
The 123rd Boston Marathon commences on Monday, April 15th, and IMPACT Melanoma is once again proud to present Team IMPACT, which is comprised of a dedicated group of runners that come from different backgrounds and levels of running experience. Each of our runners share a passion for our cause – which is to spread awareness and prevention initiatives with regard to the incidences of melanoma around the United States, and, with our lead, the word.
Many of Team IMPACT’s members are survivors, family members of survivors, or a person who has lost a loved one to melanoma. Together, along with our partnership with the Boston Athletic Association, we’ve been able to make great IMPACT over the years raising in excess of $2 million, which has gone to directly benefit IMPACT Melanoma’s mission of prevention, education, support and advocacy in the fight against melanoma.
As mentioned, each of our team members have unique reasons as to why they’re contributing efforts to Team IMPACT, and, as such, we’re highlighting a handful of them in support of their run, and their campaign to raise necessary funds.
With that in mind, please join us in welcoming and thanking, John Howick!
IMPACT Melanoma: How’d you learn about IMPACT Melanoma and Team IMPACT?
John Howick: The Boston marathon charity program is very large, successful, and conspicuous to those involved with the marathon in some way, particularly runners as we see some very large teams like Dana Farber Cancer Institute running beside us. With my own diagnosis of melanoma, that led me to investigate the charity program, and there was IMPACT Melanoma (which at that time was “Melanoma Foundation of New England.” The rest is history so-to-speak.
IMPACT Melanoma is a terrific organization that does great work in the prevention of melanoma and actually has reach all over the country. Statistics show that the only region of the country where the incidence of melanoma has decreased and not increased is New England, helped in part by IMPACT Melanoma’s efforts.
IM: What made you decide to get involved and commit to a spot on the team? What does said spot mean to you?
Howick: It is an inspiring organization with unbelievably wonderful, dedicated, hardworking people. I am honored and proud to support them as long as I can. For several years now I have had persistent recurring invasive melanoma of my skin secondary to sun damage which fortunately to this point has been nonmetastatic. I have had numerous wide local excisions and it has been quite some time since I had clear margins. I have completed many courses of treatment with imiquimod, the topical chemotherapy agent, on my shoulders and back. I am a fairly classic example of what all of IMPACT Melanoma’s efforts are trying to prevent.
IM: How many marathons have you run in the past? What do you take away from these experiences?
Howick: I’ve run about 25 marathons, this will be my 14th Boston. Every marathon and every Boston marathon is different. At my age they are all hard physically but being affiliated with a team like IMPACT Melanoma adds a special extra element beyond just the physical.
IM: I know it’s hard to predict, but how do you think this particular run will stack up (from a philosophical/humanitarian/or just straight physical point of view)?
Howick: I ran in 2013, the year of the bombing. Ironically it was one of my best recent Boston runs, which actually caused me conflicting and guilty feelings in view of the tragedy and sadness. Luckily I finished about 40 minutes before the bombing. My wife was waiting for me to finish across Boylston from one of the bombs but had left to meet me in the family meeting area so she was quite fortunate. The experience has only endeared Boston and the marathon to us even more. The stories of the tragedy, victims, response, heroism, etc. will always be with us.
I fully intend to complete my 25th Boston Marathon and become a member of the quarter century club, and I will be 81 when I can finally accomplish that. So, this race is another in obtaining that goal! I sincerely hope that IMPACT Melanoma will continue to be a partner with me for the duration of that endeavor…
IM: What is your personal stance / battle cry with regard to skin cancer and taking care of one’s skin?
Howick: This is not about me. It’s about helping IMPACT Melanoma in their mission of educating people on how to prevent skin cancer and melanoma with simple steps and spreading the word throughout the country where in many regions the risk from sun exposure is much higher than New England. Please pass the word. Any donation will be beneficial and much appreciated by IMPACT Melanoma.
IM: What’s your pre-race ritual? Some sort of specific cuisine the night before? Specific stretching routine? Special socks? You tell us!
Howick: We love visiting Boston and stay at the same hotel (Colonnade) in the Back Bay every year. That way we’re around so much of the pre-race activities and the excitement and anticipation in the atmosphere are palpable. We often take in a Red Sox game and want to attend a Bruin’s playoff game one of these years.
To get involved and make a donation:
Visit John’s runner profile here to help him reach his personal goal: www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/impact-melanoma-boston-2019/johnhowick
Visit our Team IMPACT profile page here: www.crowdrise.com/o/en/team/impact-melanoma-boston-2019
