SAUGUS –Zack Cummings will be the face of a fundraising campaign for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The 15-year-old Saugus native was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in January after he and his parents noticed a lump on his neck. He began a two-and-a-half year treatment plan in February and travels to Boston for regular appointments at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital twice each week.
He was chosen to be the face of the clinic’s Giving Tuesday campaign, a global day of giving celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, which kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.
This year, Dana-Farber has set a goal to raise $1 million on Giving Tuesday to support patient and research efforts.
“I’m just honored to be chosen to be the face of such an important cause and I hope that I’m able to help them reach their Giving Tuesday goal,” said Cummings.
Dana-Farber chose Cummings because, despite being sick, he keeps a positive attitude and enjoys special activities and events organized by the clinic for patients as nice moments to escape from his cancer, said Colleen Brown, a spokesperson for Dana-Farber.
The hospital community also appreciates that he’s a diehard Boston sports fan, she said.
The Cummings family hopes that sharing their story will help inspire others to donate to the cause so that no other family has to endure what they have gone through. His mom, Beth, said she wants to see Dana-Farber raise money for more research on the drugs being used to treat her son and other children.
“They have a huge success rate with it, but they need more research on the lifetime effects of the drugs they are giving them. They need more research dollars,” she said. “They know they work, but they also know that they cause a lot of other problems.”
She said she isn’t surprised that the clinic is impressed with her son.
“He’s very friendly in the clinic and his personality is just, he’s always got a smile on his face,” she said.
Donations can be made online at jimmyfund.org/givingtuesday.
