410 FOR JILL:
Friends (& Caregivers) Forever
Elleke Haggerty, Ruth Ann Keene, Kim LaFontana, Hilary
Morse, Jill Pflaum, Heather Severs, Meredith Shachoy,
Elizabeth Spokes and Sabrina Strickland have been friends
since they met in 1987 as freshmen at Cornell. In the
25-plus years since college graduation, their bond is only
becoming stronger, despite families, careers and lives
scattered all over the world.
When Jill was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011,
there was no question that “the girls of 410” (so named for
the address of the house they shared in college) would get
involved. Of course they rallied for Jill personally, helping
with health challenges and daily life. They also wanted to
do more. Team 410 was born out of their efforts to support
the MMRF in the Race for Research 5K series. Every year
the women run an MMRF 5K somewhere in the United
States, making the time surrounding the race for a reunion
where they reconnect. And every year they increase their
fundraising goal. As a team, they’ve raised well over half a
million dollars. “We are a bunch of women who get things
done,” said Meredith. “We set our minds to a goal and get
busy raising funds and asking for support.”
The team is honored to receive the MMRF Caregiver Award
this year in Boston. Caring for someone who lives miles
away requires a different kind of work, but this group feels
Jill makes this easy because she is such an incredible person
and friend. “Jill is someone who listens and offers love with
a fun and inspiring spirit, to her children, husband, parents,
friends and beyond,” says Elizabeth.
The other part of caregiving, as Team 410 sees it, is to
support the MMRF’s efforts to find a cure. “The MMRF’s
work is impressive. They are the hope that Jill needs, and
the hope we all need and believe in,” says Meredith.
Jill leans on that hope — and
her old friends — all the time.
“There’s really nothing like
it,” she says. “They are an
exceptional group of loyal, smart
and successful women who are
willing to put themselves out
there to raise money on my
behalf and the outstanding
work of the MMRF.”
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