Michael Ablove, of Chelmsford, to participate in Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

On April 15, 2013, Michael Ablove, 67, of Chelmsford, anxiously waited to hear from his son, Lee, who was running in his first Boston Marathon®. The tragic events of that day left Lee, whole, but unfulfilled, and Ablove determined to cross the historic Boston Marathon finish line to honor that day. Five months later, Ablove laced up his sneakers for the first time to participate in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, which raises funds for the Jimmy Fund for lifesaving adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For his second walk, Ablove will take on the historic 26.2-mile Boston Marathon® route and be joined by his wife, Mary-Ann, and nine-year-old grandson, Noah, daughter-in-law, Lisa, and eight other friends. This year, Ablove will dedicate his walk to his dear friend, Cleo Fredette, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010, and is being treated at Dana-Farber and Lowell General Hospital. The team hopes to raise $10,000 for the cause. On Sunday, Sept. 21, Ablove will return to participate in the 26th annual event, joining more than 8,500 people who will walk to raise more than $7.5 million for the Jimmy Fund.

On the evening of Sept. 21, the Prudential Center and The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge will glow in red and yellow to mark the 26th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

This year’s event will bring the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk’s 26-year fundraising total to more than $100 million. To register for the 26th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai (#JimmyFundWalk) on Sept. 21, or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registration is easy and walkers can enter the discount code NEWS for $5 off.