NORTH READING — Nine residents from North Reading will choose their own route on October 3 for the annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way. Participants may “Walk Your Way” from wherever they are most comfortable—whether that be from their neighborhood, local park, favorite trail or even a treadmill in their own home.
Rich Blatt, Daniel Bouchard, Joyce DiGiantommaso, Denise Forcellese, Gigi Garcia-Rogers, Heather MacLeod, April McGilvreay, Laura Parrow and Soumya Vishnu, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in virtual programming during the walk that aims to recreate the most inspiring elements of walk day.
While the event will not physically bring walkers together along the famed Boston Marathon course, it will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The event has raised more than $150 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 30-plus year history.
Local Walk Hero matched
Walk Heroes are matched with Jimmy Fund Walk teams to give participants an opportunity to connect with patients. Joyce DiGiantommaso is a Walk Hero for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk and will help inspire walkers as they partake in this year’s virtual event. Images and stories of Walk Heroes will be accessible to inspire walkers. Joyce was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She is matched with her own Walk team, Toss Out Cancer.
“While we can’t see everyone in person this year, we are excited for the virtual program to give participants the opportunity to support breakthroughs in cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in their own way,” said Zack Blackburn, director of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. “Together, from a safe distance, we will take critical strides in the journey to defy cancer.”
This year’s event will have a lower fundraising requirement of $100 for adults and $25 for youths under 18, with a $5 registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib and medal. The first 5,000 to register will receive a commemorative Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.
Anyone interested in additional information can reference the Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way frequently asked questions or can send an email to: JimmyFundWalk@DFCI.Harvard.edu. Funds raised from the Jimmy Fund Walk support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Boston Athletic Association has supported the Jimmy Fund Walk since 1989 and Hyundai has been the presenting sponsor since 2002.
To register to walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255. All Jimmy Fund Walk participants are encouraged to utilize the Charity Miles App to help with training and fundraising, engage with Dana-Farber patient stories and podcasts and more. Download the app at https://bit.ly/3yfmgtZ.
