Swampscott Residents To Join Boston Marathon®Jimmy Fund Walk

This article was submitted by Allison Epstein.

On Sept. 9, Swampscott residents Leila Cooper and Beth Shribman will walk up to 26.2 miles along the historic route of the Boston Marathon^® in the 24th annual Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. 

They will be among the 9,000 walkers expected to participate with the collective goal of raising more than $7.5 million to support lifesaving adult and pediatricpatient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk is the largest single-day participatory event benefiting the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber and has raised nearly $80 million since its inception in 1989 to conquer all forms of cancer. The Boston Athletic Association has supported the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk for the past 24 years.

“Every year, the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk unites thousands of people — from parents, neighbors, coworkers, cancer patients, cancer survivors, and the young and the old — who share a goal to bring an end to cancer,” says Ann Beach, director of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. “Their dedication and commitment to fundraising for the event enables Dana-Farber to aggressively pursue its life-saving mission.”

Participants may choose to walk one of four routes: the entire 26.2-mile Hopkinton to Boston route, the 13.1-mile Babson to Bostonroute, the 5-mile Boston College route, or the 3-mile route starting at Dana-Farber’s campus. Those unable to participate on Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk day can become “Virtual Walkers” and still fundraise for the event.

Walkers begin in Hopkinton between 5:30-7:30 a.m.; at BabsonCollege between 8:30-9:30 a.m.; at Boston College between 10 a.m. and noon; and from Dana-Farber at 1:30 p.m. The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk finishes at Copley Square in Boston, where walkers can celebrate completing the course and enjoy complimentary food, beverages, a speaking program, and entertainment.

All walkers must raise a minimum of $300, and walkers 12 years old and younger have a fundraising minimum of $100. Pacesetters are extraordinary fundraisers who raise $1,250 or more. Young Pacesetters are children 12 years old and younger who raise $500 or more.

To register for the 24th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, to support a walker, or to volunteer, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.orgor call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the discount codeBOSTON for $5 off the registration fee.

About the Jimmy Fund

The Jimmy Fund (www.JimmyFund.org) solely supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. It is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, as well as the official charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook:www.facebook.com/thejimmyfund and on Twitter:@TheJimmyFund. 

2012 Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai

• On Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, an expected 9,000 people will participate in the Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, a one-day fundraising event that supports all types of cancers, with the goal of raising more than $7.5 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

• In its 24th year, the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk has raised nearly $80 million in support of adult and pediatric cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

• The money raised by walkers directly benefits New Englandresidents, as well as people across the globe affected by all types of cancer. Doctors and scientists worldwide use treatment and research advances made at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to care for their patients and to conduct research.

• Walkers can choose from four routes: Hopkinton 26.2-mile; Babson College 13.1-mile; Boston College 5-mile; and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s campus 3-mile. 

• There is also a Virtual Walker option for those who would like to fundraise, but are unable to attend the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

• Official starting locations: Hopkinton 26.2-mile, rolling start: 5:30 to 7:30 a.m.; Babson College 13.1-mile, rolling start: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; Boston College 5-mile, rolling start: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s campus 3-mile: 1:30 p.m., which will include many patients and their families.   

• Participants leaving from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s campus location are escorted by members of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. The Jimmy Fund has been the official charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association since 1953.

• All walkers must raise a minimum of $300 in contributions, except for walkers 12 years old and younger whose fundraising minimum is $100.

• Pacesetters are walkers who raise $1,250 or more. Pacesetters, the heart and soul of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, receive special benefits and recognition for their commitment to the event. In 2011, there were 1,271 Pacesetters.

• Young Pacesetters are children age 12 and younger who raise at least $500.

• Individuals and/or businesses are encouraged to sign up as teams. Many teams walk in honor of someone currently battling cancer or in memory of someone lost to the disease. In 2011, there were 882 teams.

• Walkers are treated to refueling stations along the course as well as a celebration at the Copley Square finish line complete with food, music, and a speaking program.

• To register for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Sept. 9, or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255.

• The Boston Athletic Association has supported the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk for 24 years. 

Jimmy Fund History

In 1948, The Jimmy Fund was founded with the help of the Variety Club of New England (now the Variety Children's Charity of New England). The club organized a radio broadcast from the bedside of 12-year-old cancer patient, Einar Gustafson, dubbed “Jimmy,” as he was visited by members of the Boston Braves baseball team. Contributions poured in to buy him a television set so he could watch the Braves play from his home in Maine.  Gustafson, who lived to be a father and grandfather, passed away in January 2001.

In 1953, Boston Red Sox owners Tom and Jean Yawkey adopted the Jimmy Fund as the team’s official charity when the Braves moved toMilwaukee. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also named the Jimmy Fund as its official charity that year.  The Jimmy Fund is also the official charity of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge bike-a-thon, the Boston Athletic Association, and the Variety Children’s Charity of New England. 

Today, the Jimmy Fund is widely-regarded as New England’s favorite charity.

Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk History

The idea for the Jimmy Fund Walk came about in the late 1980s when Mike Andrews, former Red Sox second baseman and chairman of the Jimmy Fund, and his wife, Marilyn, were taking a walk one day and mentioned how great it would be to host a walk as a benefit for the Jimmy Fund. They wanted it to be unique and Mike Andrews suggested it be held along the Boston Marathon^® route. He spoke with Boston Athletic Association officials and walkers have been walking the Boston Marathon^® route to raise money for Dana-Farber ever since. A fall date was selected because most of the area’s larger fundraising walks are held in the spring. The first Jimmy Fund Walk was held in 1989 with approximately 600 walkers.

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