Revere Beach woman aiming to cure cancer – one dollar at a time

REVERE – Brenda White’s sidewalk umbrella and hand-made “water one dollar” sign is a Revere Beach fixture and the most visible testament to White’s 29-year effort to raise money for cancer research.By the time September slides into fall, White, with the help of family, neighbors, friends and friendly passersby, will have raised $750 to support the Dana-Farber Center Institute; specifically efforts to find a cure for neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer.Neuroblastoma attacks the nerve system and accounts for 15 percent of childhood cancer deaths. Dana-Farber’s Web site cites an October 2008 discovery of a gene mutation that may lead to additional discoveries aimed at destroying the cancer.White relies on her water stand donations and her work through the Pan-Mass Challenge to raise $4,500 annually in support of neuroblastoma research. On balmy days she sets her umbrella and cooler full of ice and water bottles on the sidewalk in front of her home and relies on the honor system to solicit donations.”The most common question I get is, ‘Do people ever steal from you?’ I tell them, the good outweighs the bad.”The stand is an outgrowth of her long-time participation in Pan-Mass. The annual bicycle charity event spans 36 states and eight countries raising over $275 million in three decades. White and thousands of other riders peddled 192 miles from Sturbridge to Provincetown last weekend with the goal of raising $30 million for the Jimmy Fund to support Dana-Farber’s research and treatment work.Losing friends and loved ones to cancer inspired White to take part in Pan-Mass but the thrill of hearing about the break-through in neuroblastoma research made all the miles on a bicycle and all the days sitting on her sidewalk worthwhile.”It was all directly related to the money we raised through the ride and through my neighbors helping me. It makes me want to cry.”White said participating in Pan-Mass and setting up her sidewalk stand keeps her focused on positive thinking.”I get a lot of ‘thank yous.’ It absolutely makes you feel like you are doing something,” she said.