Today is a very exciting day! We are launching our MEET MONDAY series, providing you the opportunity to get to know an Escapee on the first and last Monday of each month. So, without further ado, please meet Catherine Mesner!
Catherine lives in Boston with her wonderful husband Bear and her two lovable cats — Ted and Williams. She has been on nine Escapes thus far (Morocco, Cambodia, Cartagena, Galapagos, Patagonia, Sacred Valley Peru, Bhutan, Botswana, and India) and considers Patagonia her favorite for hiking, Bhutan for bliss, and India for sensory overload.
Catherine is an outdoor cycling enthusiast who loves oysters and naps. She never travels without her bathing suit and loves to float in the ocean or a pool, any body of water with do!
When we asked her to talk about something she is passionate about, here is what she said: “I am passionate about my career in pharmaceutical development. I reflect on the pharmaceutical products which I helped bring to market; the respect for the data and regulations to ensure the safety of the product. Some have changed or even saved the lives of many. Since I know drug development uses boatloads of time and money I am passionate about raising funds for Dana Farber Cancer Institute, a world-class facility in Boston. I raise money by cycling each year in the Pan Mass Challenge. Since the inception in 1980, PMC has raised more than $675,000,000. Yes, that is more than 1/2 BILLION dollars for which 100% goes directed to cancer research at Dana Farber. If I can’t work on all the medicines to cure cancer, this is how I can ensure the funding for new treatments to be discovered and studied is available. This will be my 5th year cycling from Wellesley to Provincetown, and to date I have raised more than $40,000.”
You can donate to Catherine’s campaign HERE.
Discover a bit more about Catherine by reading her rapid fire answer below:
What are you afraid of? Lightening.
A song that could be the theme song to your life? I hope you dance by Lee Ann Womack (lyrics below).
What do you miss most about being a kid? Having the summer off and being “free range”.
You are on a beautiful beach. The first think you look for is? Water to float in.
If you had to leave the country you live in now, where would you live? Italy.
A skill you don’t have (perhaps, yet!) but would love to have? Singing.
You’ve been gifted a shopping spree — anything you want, no budget — what store do you head to? Saks
Favorite animal: Cats.
What brings you joy? My cats Ted and Williams.
Thank you Catherine for sharing a glimpse of yourself with us — it is always an honor and such fun to travel the world with you — watching you float… and dance ;).
I Hope You Dance
by Lee Ann Womack
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’
Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (Where those years have gone?)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder?)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Tia Sillers / Mark Sanders
I Hope You Dance lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave