Thousands of people will gather in Boston on Sunday for the 35th annual Jimmy Fund Walk.
The Jimmy Fund has been raising money in the Boston area on behalf of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for 75 years. The walk contains four different routes of varying distances.
Participants have fundraised for the walk as they work toward this year’s collective goal of $9 million, and many local communities are well represented.
In Marblehead, 12 residents are preparing to walk, four of whom are Rachel Marco and her family. Marco, her two daughters, 4-year-old Annie and 1-year-old Emilia, and her husband, John, will be walking the 5K in honor of Rachel Marco’s mother, Lorraine Harrington, who died of stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2007.
“It means a lot that we can kind of get closer to not having other people experience what my family had to,” Rachel Marco said.
Rachel Marco’s team has been working toward its goal of $3,000. A marketing and communications employee at Dana-Farber, Rachel Marco said that the money raised will help fund research and tests, such as bloodwork tests that the institute is currently working on, to detect ovarian cancer more quickly and effectively.
“It means so much. I know from just working at Dana-Farber how meaningful it is to give back,” Rachel Marco said. “It’s a place that’s changing lives on a daily basis.”
Another notable participant is Police Chief Dennis King, who is entering his second year helping Dana-Farber by taking part in the walk. He encouraged everyone to contribute because anyone can be affected by cancer.
“I’ve heard people say that donating to the Jimmy Fund is like putting in a deposit that you never want to have to withdraw. But, if you do, like many of us have, the significance of the advancements in care are incredible,” King said. “And that’s because of the Jimmy Fund.”
Andrea Onufrychuk, Jason Johnson, Rossana Ferrante, Dana Chicoine, Susan Walton, David Leinberry, and Suzanne Iovanna make up the remaining roster of Marbleheaders who have given time and effort to support cancer research.
Saugus will be represented by a pair of residents: Anthony Sapochetti and Sharon Genovese.
Genovese has raised $1,133 toward the $2,700 goal of her team, Sharon’s Sneaker Crew.
Sapochetti is set to walk the 10K this weekend in honor of his godmother and aunt, Christine Hardy, who lost her battle to cancer last year at the age of 49. Hardy was diagnosed and treated through Dana-Farber.
“She loved life, traveling to tropical islands, and bringing her full self to the table,” Hardy’s family wrote. “She is sorely missed and deeply loved.”
Sapochetti said the work done by Dana-Farber, which he saw firsthand during Hardy’s treatment, is “nothing short of heroic,” and that Dana-Farber fought Hardy’s battle against the insidious disease with her each and every day. Changemakers for Christine, the team captained by Sapochetti, had raised more than $314 toward a goal of $1,500 as of press time.
“Any support in donating and sharing is much appreciated in my goal to help Dana-Farber save lives and beat cancer’s ass,” he said.
Hardy’s family noted that many now find themselves in the same position Hardy once did.
“While this is devastating news, there is hope,” he said. “This hope comes at Dana-Farber. Through their own facility in the Fenway district of Boston, and their partnerships with Boston Children’s Hospital and Mass General Hospital, they are given the opportunity to save lives. They need the resources to do so.”
The family’s statement concluded with a message to Hardy.
“Christine. This is for YOU. We love and miss you deeply every day,” they said. “We would also like to send our wishes for health and happiness to all the patients, doctors, nurses, and support staff at Dana-Farber. Keep fighting for a cure!”
Swampscott’s 15 participants include Teddy and Lucas Weissman, two young brothers who each raised $1,082 to fight cancer.
“The reason I want to support the Jimmy Fund Walk is because so many people have suffered and died because of cancer. Also my grandma is still fighting cancer, and my cousin used to have cancer. So I just want to help others who are still fighting,” Teddy Weissman wrote.
Swampscott residents Maayan Yaakov, Yuval Yaakov, Yoni Yaakov, Wendy Yaakov, Teddy Weissman, Lucas Weissman, Madden Crowe, Jonathan Wallace, Leila Cooper, Grace Olinger, Nathan Seipel, Lily Rice, Mariana-Mor Roter, Beth Shribman, and Sean Cahill will all walk on Sunday as well.
Shribman, Swampscott’s top fundraiser, raised $10,108 for cancer research.
“I am participating in the 2023 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, taking steps toward the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer,” Shribman wrote.
Six Lynnfield residents will participate in the 10K walk this weekend: Cathleen Ladd, Karen Johnian, Mary Eaton, Dorothy Brach, Allison Milito, and John Milito. In a post on the Jimmy Fund Walk website, Ladd said that she is participating in the walk to support her family members who have struggled with cancer.
“My brother, Jim, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in March of 2022,” Ladd said. “At that time, our world felt like it was falling apart. Due to the care and incredible doctors, nurses, and staff at Dana-Farber and the care and support of Jim’s amazing family, he is winning this fight like a champ. My sister Sandy and niece Kelli were diagnosed with breast cancer during the past year and a half. The surgeries and treatments they went through sometimes seemed unbearable, but they persevered.”
Ten people from Lynn will walk Sunday, including Nicholas Imonti, Peter Imonti, Peter Imonti, Michelle Imonti, Debra Boudreau, and David Boudreau as part of Team Hope, which has raised around $20,000.
Also from Lynn are Melissa Bransfield, Jennifer Powell, and Gina Nasco of the team Walk This Way and Yuri García of the team Cancer Crusaders.
