“In 2010, I thought I had a swollen gland or something in my neck,” recounts Marblehead resident Jerry Tucker. “I had it looked at by the doctors at North Shore Ear, Nose & Throat, and they realized that I actually had a tumor the size of a lime. It was Stage 4 throat cancer.”
While that diagnosis throttled Tucker, he knew he was in excellent hands at Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center. Although he looked at two other cancer treatment options in Boston, Tucker asserts North Shore Medical Center and Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center was his first choice in terms of where to be treated.
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“The Cancer Center makes it so easy for patients to receive treatment,” he says. “I was able to have my 15-minute radiation treatments in Danvers on my way home from work every day. I honestly enjoyed going there because the people there treat everyone like a human, not just a patient. They all knew my name, why I was there. They’re waiting for YOU; you’re not waiting for them.”
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After successfully beating cancer, Tucker knew immediately that he wanted to give back to North Shore Medical Center and the Cancer Center. He has been a proud participant in the Cancer WALK for the past three years and has been one of the top fundraisers each of those years. This year he is already in the top 3 fundraisers for the event.
Because of his passion for and dedication to quality cancer care on the North Shore, Tucker was selected to serve as co-chair for the 2014 North Shore Cancer WALK, which will take place this Sunday, June 22 at Salem Willows Park.
“Being asked to be a co-chair of the WALK this year is extremely humbling,” he says. “I feel so blessed to be able to give back and be part of it all. WALK day is such an amazing experience, and I’m very excited to be a member of the team to put it all together. I hope to help make this year’s WALK the most successful one yet!”
When asked about his impressions of WALK day, Tucker states: “I’m really looking forward to one of my favorite aspects of WALK day: Literally the shirts on people’s backs. Those team t-shirts many walkers wear tell so many stories. They give the reasons people are walking, why everyone is there. I really commend people for that. Team t-shirts are so inspiring and motivating, and I can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store for that rainbow of colors on WALK day!”
The 24th Annual North Shore Cancer WALK will be held rain or shine on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at Salem Willows Park starting at 8:00 am. The WALK is a 6.2 mile route from Salem Willows Park to Salem State College. Entertainment, volunteers, and water stations are found throughout the WALK course, making it an entertaining and meaningful day.
Money raised from the WALK will support the construction of the new inpatient oncology unit at North Shore Medical Center as well as wellness services and support programs at the Mass General / North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers.
More information can be found at www.northshorecancerwalk.org.
