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Above, two Franklin residents ready to walk...
Some 70 residents from Franklin will participate in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sunday, October 6.
Deborah Cohen, Ana Vozzella, Stella Griffin, Pamela Vickery, Melissa Ross, Brock Leiendecker, Ellie Cleary, Lisa Costa, Karly Griffin, Loretta Brightman, and 60 other Franklin residents, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in the iconic annual event that unites the community to raise funds and support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $176 million for Dana-Farber in its 35-year history, raising a record-breaking $9.4 million in 2023.
Mark Lewis will participate as a Walk Hero for the Jimmy Fund Walk. Heroes are Dana-Farber patients, the heart of the event, who provide inspiration and motivation to walkers along the course. Heroes are matched with Jimmy Fund Walk teams who walk in their honor. Mark was diagnosed with Stage IV GI cancer. Mark walks on his match team, The Rak Pack.
“Be good to people!” Mark writes “People will always remember how you made them feel. Enjoy the small things in life. Take the trip and eat the cake. Most importantly, tell the people closest to you that you love them.”
Similarly, a dozen residents from Medway will participate in the event.
Jodi Wilensky, Lily Shamoian, Emma Shamoian, Andra Freeman, Dale Freeman, Maryann Marzakis, William Kingsbury, Betsy Shamoian, Amanda O'Connell, Jack O'Connell, and two other Medway residents,will participate.
"For 35 years, the Jimmy Fund Walk has continuously supported lifesaving research and cancer care at Dana-Farber. Our goal is to build off of the momentum we've established throughout that history, and in 2024, aim to surpass our total from last year by raising $9.5 million,” said Caitlin Fink, assistant vice president of event fundraising. “Fighting cancer is what we do. The Walk unites our community under a common goal —to defy cancer together.”
One Walk, Four Distances, For All Cancers
The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted to use the famed Boston Marathon® course, and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K walk (from Dana-Farber’s Longwood Medical Campus); 10K walk (from Newton); Half Marathon walk (from Wellesley); and Marathon walk (from Hopkinton). Walkers can participate virtually as well.
Whatever route participants choose, they will be supported by hundreds of volunteers and treated to refueling stations with refreshments throughout the course. All routes will conclude at the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line Powered by Schneider Electric at Boston Common, by the corner of Charles and Beacon Street. Finish line activities will include a celebration with food, entertainment, and more.
To register for the Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.
About the Jimmy Fund
The Jimmy Fund is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, X, and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world's leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber's mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
We provide the latest treatments in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care. As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials.
