Two Newport residents are set to participate in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sunday, October 6, joining thousands of others in the iconic fundraising event for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Sean O’Connor and Sarah Pierce will walk to support all forms of adult and pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber, the nation’s premier cancer center. The annual event has raised more than $176 million for Dana-Farber in its 35-year history, including a record-breaking $9.4 million in 2023.
Pierce, a cancer survivor, will participate as a Walk Hero, providing inspiration and motivation to walkers along the course. Diagnosed with Gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma, she walks on her match team, Young Adult Program.
“I never expected to be diagnosed with cancer, especially at my age,” Pierce says. “Although cancer has taken so much from me, I can’t ignore the lifesaving treatment I received from Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.”
Pierce expresses gratitude for her medical team, who guided her through treatment with exceptional compassion. “I am forever grateful for my oncologists, specialists, family and friends for helping me survive cancer. They are my heroes!” she adds.
The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted to use the famed Boston Marathon course. Participants can 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. A virtual participation option is also available.
Walkers will be supported by hundreds of volunteers and treated to refueling stations with refreshments throughout the course. All routes conclude at the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line Powered by Schneider Electric at Boston Common, where participants will enjoy a celebration with food and entertainment.
Caitlin Fink, assistant vice president of event fundraising, emphasizes the event’s significance: “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.”
Fink adds, “Fighting cancer is what we do. The Walk unites our community under a common goal —to defy cancer together.”
The Jimmy Fund, 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, has been instrumental in saving countless lives and reducing the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide since 1948.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is renowned for its world-leading cancer research and treatment. The institute provides cutting-edge treatments for adults through Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
As the only hospital nationwide with a top 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care, Dana-Farber maintains a unique balance between cancer research and care. The institute translates discovery results into new treatments for patients locally and globally, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials.
Those interested in participating in or supporting the Jimmy Fund Walk can register or donate at www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can use the promo code NEWS for a $5 discount on the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.
