George and Beverly Swymer Walk in Their 21st Jimmy Fund Walk

On Sunday, September 27th, George and Beverly Swymer with family and friends will participate in their 21st Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. They will be walking in memory of their daughter Karen, whose courageous battle with cancer began at the age of 10 when she was diagnosed with a rare and virulent form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma in her right forearm. So began a long journey with The Jimmy Fund. Surgery and radiation was followed by two years of aggressive chemotherapy. Despite the uncertainty and many challenges she encountered during those two years, Karen never lost sight of her ultimate goal to be well again.

Thanks to the treatment she received at Dana-Farber, with unmatched energy and determination, Karen embraced life and all its possibilities. She graduated from Marian High School, Smith College, worked in Washington DC for two years and realized a long held dream and entered Boston College Law School.

At the age of 25, during her second year of law school a routine follow-up x-ray revealed a different type of bone cancer in her right arm with metastasis to both her lungs. Despite a grim prognosis, Karen never became disillusioned, or lost her spirit. Withdrawing from law school, Karen began an intense 18 months of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery on both her lungs and having her right arm amputated.

As an avid spokesperson for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber, Karen spoke at countless events to share her story and the mission of the Dana Farber in order to raise critical funds for cancer research and patient care and to ignite the gift of hope. However, Karen’s most important effort, the one she cherished, was the one on one time she spent with patients and their families---comforting, encouraging, inspiring and empowering them to believe in themselves. In order to continue to Karen’s legacy of loving concern for others, her parents, George and Beverly feel it is important to continue to participate in the Jimmy Fund Walk and support its life saving mission and cutting-edge research.

With a brilliant smile on her face, Karen returned to Boston College Law School, graduated, passed the bar exam and became a practicing attorney at a top Boston Law Firm. She continued to reach out to others through her public speaking so that they too would believe in the miracles that happen at Dana Farber and that dreams do come true.

Almost six years after her second relapse, the unthinkable happened. Karen was diagnosed with a large tumor in her left lung. With courage and her parents, fiancé and her three sisters by her side, she stepped back into the world of surgery and chemotherapy.

True to Karen’s love of life and spirit of invincibility, she married Bill, the love of her life. Sadly, at the age of 32, Karen lost her battle with cancer. Karen, once said, “What I have learned is that our battle with this terrible disease is not about outcomes… no matter how glorious or tragic….It is about courage along the way that matters”

On Sunday September 27th Team Karen, 50 walkers strong, will take steps in honor of Karen from Hopkinton, Wellesley and Boston College.

To support Team Karen and the lifesaving mission of the Dana Farber, you can make a gift by visiting www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2015/teamkarenss.

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