WESTBOROUGH – In 1997, a Westborough family received terrible news.
Lindsey Ward, the four-year-old daughter of Jeffrey and Sally Ward, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Thanks to the care received at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, she made a full recovery after a two-year treatment.
To honor those who treated his daughter, Jeffrey decided to take part in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. He “walked the walk” again in 1998, then waited a while.
Twenty-six years, to be exact.
To mark Lindsey’s 30th birthday, and Jeffrey’s 70th, he will join thousands of other walkers on Sunday, Oct. 1, in raising money for Dana-Farber. Jeffrey plans to walk from Hopkinton to Boston.
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“I am walking because I walked twice before. Once in 1997 with lots of training and again in 1998 without enough,” he said. “I cannot delay doing this as Oct. 1 will be a ‘local maximum’ (as we say in the math business) for my health in my twilight years. My survivor daughter Lindsey thought doing one more would be a good way to celebrate her 30th birthday and my 70th. I am grateful for the Jimmy Fund and view this opportunity as an expression of gratitude.”
“We’ve had a real good experience [with Dana-Farber],” he added. “They used a real team approach.”
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Jeffrey’s daughter currently lives in Dallas, and she will be there along the route. She was there back in 1997, as one of the many posters that marked each mile to help inspire walkers.
“Most of my memories are of the nurses and nurse practitioners,” Lindsey said. “They were very personable.”
Both Wards have fundraising pages on the Jimmy Fund Walk website.
Jeff’s Fundraising Page: https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=2000&pg=personal&px=1169192
Lindsey’s Fundraising Page: https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=2000&pg=personal&px=2380779
About the Walk
The 2023 Jimmy Fund Walk raises funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K Walk (3.1 miles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), 10K Walk (6.2 miles from Newton), Half Marathon Walk (13.1 miles from Wellesley) or Marathon Walk (26.2 miles from Hopkinton).
Walkers can also participate virtually by “walking their way” from wherever they are most comfortable — whether that be in their neighborhood, on a favorite hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home.
The 2023 Walk will be held during the Jimmy Fund’s 75th anniversary year and will aim to raise $9 million in the effort to prevent, treat and defy cancer. To register for the Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255.
