Thousands of people from all walks of life dedicate their time, energy, and resources to the Jimmy Fund each year. Each one of them has a story and a few have generously shared their stories with us. If you have a special story to share about your involvement with the Jimmy Fund, e-mail Jessica Zielinski at jessica_zielinski@dfci.harvard.edu.
Tara: A one-year cancer journey
Tara, a Jimmy Fund Clinic and Dana-Farber patient, wrote this reflection on her first year with cancer for the Web site Sons of Sam Horn. With her permission, it is reprinted here along with her thoughts on misconceptions about teens with cancer. Read more
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Joe Bianchi: Young cyclist shines
At just 17, Joe Bianchi was one of the youngest cyclists to compete in the 2009 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. His ties to the cancer cause came through his family, including his mother, Theresa, who is a chaplain at Dana-Farber/New Hampshire Hematology-Oncology in Londonderry, NH. Read more
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The Play Lady: A profile of Lisa Scherber
Lisa Scherber is the Child Life Specialist at the Jimmy Fund Clinic, but she is more familiarly referred to as "the play lady." This extraordinary profile of Lisa was written by high school student Emily Polk. Read more
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Dominic DiMaggio was longtime All-Star for Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber
Dominic "Dom" DiMaggio, center fielder for the Red Sox, was one of the early celebrities who focused his energy on helping Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund, and was still at it a half century after hanging up his glove. Read more
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The Jimmy Fund toasts outgoing Cheers bartender Eddie Doyle
Eddie Doyle has spent nearly 35 years tending bar at the place where "everybody knows your name," but his ties to the Jimmy Fund go back even further. Read more
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Celebrating 20 years of walking the Walk
The Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. And a handful of walkers will be trekking the course for the 20th time. Read more
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Irving Shaprio
On September 10, 2008, Dana-Farber lost one of the key players involved with the early days of the Jimmy Fund — and the tremendous growth it has since experienced — when Irving Shapiro passed away at age 96. Read more
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Dan Rose
"I don't like running," says Dan Rose, which begs a logical next question for the wiry 31-year-old cancer survivor: What's a guy doing traversing the entire 190-mile course of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) bike-a-thon this week on his feet rather than wheels? Read more
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Robert Freedman
Prostate cancer survivor Robert Freedman shares a first-person account of his trek through the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts as part of Katelynn's Ride. Read more
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Cindy Hale
I ride the PMC for me and for you, for your mom, brother, cousin, grandfather, friend, and this year for Caroline, a vivacious 7-year old with a brain tumor, whose favorite color is pink, and who likes playing the violin. She is one of the reasons why I will take part in the PMC again this year, next year, and beyond. Read more
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L. Smith
After finishing chemotherapy and radiation for Hodgkin lymphoma at the end of April 2007, L. Smith decided to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) bike-a-thon to get back in shape. Here is her first-person account of the journey. Read more
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Hemoglobin Trotters and Teddy's Bears
The Hemoglobin Trotters and Teddy's Bears are two teams helping to achieve cures step by step in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk.
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David Roberts
David Roberts, MD, describes himself before May of 2002 as a basically happy, healthy, hardworking doc who never slowed down — that is, until his spleen ruptured while he was giving a lecture. Read more
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Team FLAMES
Team FLAMES – Fast Legs and Minds to End Suffering – is one of more than 50 teams that rode and raised money for the PMC in 2007. Read more
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Grace Lin
Children's book illustrator Grace Lin and her husband Robert founded Robert's Snow as a fundraiser to benefit Dana-Farber. Read about how it all began. Read more
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Saul Wisnia
Sometimes it's not about the miles. That's what Saul Wisnia realized when he missed his first Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk in 10 years on Sept. 16, 2007. Read more
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Steve Hollingsworth
Steve Hollingsworth will be one of more than 7,000 people walking in and raising funds for the 2007 Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk on Sept. 16. Learn what motivates this top fundraiser to go above and beyond for a great cause. Read more
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Eileen Lind
This year, Eileen Lind, a pediatric nurse in the Jimmy Fund Clinic, took on a new test of her strength, joining more than 5,000 riders in the 28th annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) bike-a-thon in memory of her sister, Maureen Russo, who died of cervical cancer. Read more
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Karen Smyers
Lincoln's Karen Smyers is diving into Boston Harbor to support pediatric cancer survivor programs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The professional triathlete participated in a 22-mile relay swim around the Boston Harbor Islands to benefit the 12th annual Swim Across America (SAA). She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1999, and has made a full recovery. Now, at the age of 45, every stroke is an emotional one. Read more
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Leslie Barron and Roy Dennehy
While running a grueling 26.2-mile marathon requires commitment and dedication, for some, just completing the course is not enough. The runners who finished the 111th Boston Marathon® on behalf of Dana-Farber transformed their strides toward the finish line into strides toward cures for cancer. Read more
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Amy Jo Parker
Neither wind nor rain nor cold nor nor'easter could stop the 111th running of the Boston Marathon® on Patriots' Day, or members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team who participated in the event. Amy Jo Parker, for one, found inspiration to brave the elements and the 26.2-mile course from 11-year-old Katie Durkin. Read more
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Lisa Scherber
Most people go out to dinner on their birthday or blow out candles and eat cake, but for Lisa Scherber, activities coordinator for the Jimmy Fund Clinic, her special day was reason to sign up for the 27th annual Pan Massachusetts Challenge bike-a-thon. Read more
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Christine Fleuriel
What better activity to enjoy on a beautiful late summer day than go for a walk? How about 13.1 miles? That's what Christine Fleuriel did on Sunday, September 17, when she participated in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk. Read more
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Eileen Vazquez
For 19-year-old college student Eileen Vazquez, the 18th annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk that took place on Sept. 17, was her personal milestone: It meant that she was healthy enough to participate. Read more
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Juliana Snelling
For Bermudian Juliana Snelling, the 17th annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk, which took place on September 18, 2005, represented a celebration of her two-year-old son Jude's recent remission. Read more
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Pam Arinello
With hope in her heart for a healthier tomorrow, Pam Ariniello donned her "Team WOW" shirt for the sixth year on Aug. 6-7, 2005, to ride in the 26th Annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. Read more
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Children's fundraisers take swing at cancer
As children across the region dedicate themselves to Dana-Farber's mission, fundraisers organized by or involving youngsters are growing in number and scope. In backyards, playgrounds, and during bike rides, kids of all ages have raised millions over the last 10 years. Read more
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Abby Gilmore
When her younger sister, Olivia, was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor, Abby Gilmore stood by her during treatment. Now that Olivia is in remission, Abby is giving back to the Jimmy Fund to honor her "hero." Read more
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Kym Walther and Eric Gagnon
Kym Walther and Eric Gagnon climbed the highest freestanding mountain in the world to raise $15,000 for the Jimmy Fund. Read more
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Ashlee Moskwa
After championing the Jimmy Fund's cause for two years, 17-year-old Ashlee Moskwa got what she calls a "once-in-a-lifetime" thank-you present in December 2001: a chance to carry the Olympic flame. Read more
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Jim Walsh
Jim Walsh has a pre-race ritual that keeps him focused on his goal. Each April before tackling the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon®, he pulls out a sheet of paper and silently reads the names of friends, family members, and co-workers who have been touched by cancer. Read more
