Marblehead's Heather Walker A Celtics 'Hero' Amid Cancer Crusade

MARBLEHEAD, MA – Tucked within the myriad responsibilities, reactions and rescues Heather Walker managed on a daily basis as Vice President of Public Relations for the Boston Celtics was one task that always seemed particularly close to the Marblehead resident's heart.

The "Hero Among Us" award, given out after the first quarter of each home game, celebrated someone who went to extraordinary lengths to help or save others. As grumbling media members scrambled from the pregame coach's availability to locker room interviews to the TD Garden food spread, Walker would always make sure to snug up to a local beat reporter and remind him or her that a most worthy person from that publication's hometown was being honored that night.

On March 13, 2022, a most worthy person was honored as the Celtics "Hero Among Us," indeed. That was the day that Walker, who has been battling stage 4 Glioblastoma since July 2021, was feted for raising more than $300,000 to fund vaccine research and testing on the same day Kevin Garnett's No. 5 was raised to the Garden rafters.

"Oh my gosh, incredible," Walker told Patch of the experience. "It was the best feeling you can possibly have. The presentation gets an A+. Actually going down on the floor with my family, and my mom and everyone so close to me.

"For my daughters to see their mom being honored for Heroes Among Us was picture perfect."

Just as she always strives to make Celtics stars shine in front of the camera, Walker now looks to shine a spotlight on the battle for a cure to her rare form of brain cancer. On Saturday, that included a 2-mile walk down Preston Beach in Marblehead where more than 150 people in her hometown gathered in a show of support for those battling cancer, as well as all the teachers, students and health care workers who persevered through the challenges of the COVID-19 health crisis.

"It absolutely means so much to me," Walker said. "So many negative things have happened over the past couple of years. I thought this is one positive thing that could bring people together.

"Marblehead has been so supportive of me. Walking along the beach in town was one simple thing we could all do. I get goosebumps just thinking about it."

The beach walk was part of the #Move4Heather campaign that encourages people to use gestures great and small to help make a big difference in the fight against cancer. The Heather Walker Fund for Glioblastoma Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute goes toward helping her doctor, Dr. David Reardon, and his work with the Neovax vaccine that is currently Walker's best chance at beating the disease.

"It's quite a challenge," Walker said of the past 10 months. "I am going through and doing everything I need to be doing. I am thankful to have all these people supporting me and helping me along the way.

"With Glioblastoma you can't always say you are definitely going to be there tomorrow. You are not sure. You don't know what each day is going to be like."

Walker allowed, though, that the day of March 13 was like no other. Not only was she honored alongside her family, but it was the same day many members of the 2008 Celtics championship team reunited to help retire Garnett's number.

Walker joined the Celtics in 2006 the day before legendary coach Red Auerbach died — her first media call came from CNN for reaction to Auerbach's death — and two years later she joined the team in Rome for training camp in what would become a championship season.

"One thing I've always appreciated about you, Heather, is your ability to laugh through different situations," former Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said in a 45-minute birthday video the team produced for Walker in the fall. "You even start some of your difficult situations – like when you were riding on a motorcycle through Rome.

"You are able to find humor in very difficult situations — and we have a doozy right here in front of you."

Two years after joining the storied franchise, Walker was standing on the parquet posing with the championship trophy.

"They were so unbelievable," she told Patch of the 2008 team. "So many different personalities. It was fun. I miss those guys. No day was boring. It was electric."

That team eventually aged, broke up, with some players becoming estranged. But on this night — on Heather's night — Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Garnett reunited on the Garden floor in full embrace for the first time since they were Celtic teammates.

"To see those three guys come on the court and all hug was so amazing," Walker said. "That's the way I feel like the world should be like today. Love and embrace and no hurt feelings. Everyone should get through everything like that."

All three Celtics legends made sure to seek Walker out for an embrace as well.

"Keep your spirits high and we're all pulling for you," Pierce told her. "We love you."

Walker said she has drawn inspiration from that team's motto of Ubuntu — everyone coming together to support each other in a common goal — amid her own challenges.

"We're stronger by lifting each other up," she said. "I think that's important. Try to be the hero for someone else.

"That's how I've been living my life."

It's been a source of admiration and inspiration for those who saw her at the Garden and the team's practice facilities in Waltham and Brighton day in and day out over the past 16 years.

"I've always, always thought you were a badass in a man's world and killing it," Celtics broadcaster Abby Chin said on the birthday video. "Now that you are going through this, and I see the courage and grace with which you're handling everything, it's just proven to me what a badass woman you are."

Walker admitted she was "pissed" when first diagnosed — her father died of cancer when she was 15 years old. But her anger soon turned to resolve. Her apprehension about the future become a mission to embrace the magic in each moment.

Her frustration at the lack of a cure turned into a personal crusade to do everything she could to help find one.

"Cancer has been around way too long," she concluded. "And we've got to stop it."

(To support the Walker family amid this fight please go to this GoFundMe page here.)

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)