Dear Family and Friends:
I had envisioned a very different sort of fund raising letter, one that was witty and amusing.
On April 28 and 29, 2001, however, I sat with my dear friends, Ed, who was dying following a long, courageous battle with colon cancer, and his life partner, Paula, who was with him every step of the way.
As hearing is the last sense to go, I had many one sided conversations with Ed -- funny ones, sad ones, spiritual ones. One sentiment I shared with him was the great difficulty I was experiencing with the fact that while 2001 welcomed me as a breast cancer survivor, it was to be the year that marked his death. It would be the end of his love for his 17 year old son, Eamon, his compassion for others, his brilliance.
Ed and Paula gave me my first pledge for this year's swim. Please join us in the fight for the cure.
"I want to go down fighting, with my gloves on." These were Kell's words to me before we went for his last visit to his oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute a couple of weeks before he died. Ed Kelly was ever the fighter -- for social justice, for those he loved, and finally for his own survival.
Although life expectancy for someone diagnosed with this late stage disease is only six months, Kell fought on for two full years. The passion and determination with which he infused his work then manifested itself in his fierce battle with cancer. I am convinced that, along with his positive attitude and prayer, much of what kept him alive for so long was the belief that a cure was on the horizon. Although one was not realized in time for Kell, we can honor his courage by helping to make a cure happen soon by supporting cancer research.
Margaret's swim in June for breast cancer is an immediate opportunity to do this: in attacking one cancer we attack them all. We welcome your support in Kell's memory.
Please make checks payable to "MBCC" -- the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and return to -- 
Margaret M. Wittig
Ed Kelly Tribute
152 Dover Road
West Hartford, Connecticut 06119
Thank you for your support.
More about Ed.