Colleen Sullivan, of Walpole, to participate in Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

When Colleen Sullivan, 40, of Walpole, was diagnosed with ductul carcinoma, an invasive type of breast cancer, she immediately thought about how she would tell her three daughters, Meghan, 10, Emily, 9 and Caroline, 5, and her devoted husband, Brian. A fifth grade teacher for Mansfield Public Schools, she knew it was equally as important to explain to her students why she would be absent from school.

Sullivan’s cancer fighting journey began on March 3, 2014 when her primary care physician discovered a lump during a routine annual exam. Consequently, Sullivan was sent for a mammogram, which was the first she had since she was younger. An ultrasound and biopsy conducted one week later confirmed that she had cancer. Sullivan immediately began treatments under the care of Dr. Hal Burstein at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She chose to be treated at Dana-Farber because of the quality of care that her uncle, Mike Angelo, received at the Institute for multiple myeloma years ago. Sullivan endured a double mastectomy and underwent 16 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation treatments.

On August 20, she received her last round of chemo, successfully achieving remission. Her story is featured in the 2014 commercial for the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, which is currently airing on all Boston-area TV stations. On Sunday, Sept. 21, as a thank you to Dana-Farber, Sullivan will lace up her sneakers to participate for the first time in the one-day fundraising event. She will be among more than 8,500 people expected to walk in the 26th annual event with the collective goal of raising more than $7.5 million for the Jimmy Fund for lifesaving adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber.

As a cancer survivor, Sullivan will tackle the Boston College five-mile route and co-lead Sullivan Strong, a new Walk team representing 22 friends and family members who will walk together in her honor. Sullivan’s goal is to raise $1,000 in order to help other patients who may or may not be so lucky. An estimated 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in 2014 and of those patients 40,430 are expected to die from the disease. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer in the United States. “I am walking to raise money to help others receive the exceptional care that I received at Dana-Farber,” says Sullivan. “Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund has literally saved my life. My daughters and husband get to celebrate life with me each day and for that I am forever grateful.”

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.