GRAFTON – Grafton resident Mark Leahy was recognized as Alumni Team Captain of the Year for his efforts in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai.
His team, Team Police Chiefs, was also honored as being a top corporate team.
Leahy was among those awardees recognized for their fundraising and commitment in the 35th Jimmy Fund Walk event, held this past October.
2023 was a record-breaking year for the Jimmy Fund Walk, as the fundraising has officially surpassed $9.4 million.
More than 8,400 walkers and 700 volunteers came together for the event. Among them was Leahy, a retired Northborough police chief and executive director of Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. He has walked for 20 years and has personally raised more than $31,000 through the walk. He was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and is being treated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“He adores the staff, facility, mission, and meeting the children and families the team walks for,” Leahy’s daughter writes. “Never in a million years did he imagine he’d also be going to Dana-Farber as a patient. He is so positive and confident in his treatment because of the amazing staff members at Dana-Farber that he has come to know over the years. He is my hero.”
Team Police Chiefs received the top corporate team award for the highest fundraising team with more than 50 members. The team had 177 members and raised $153,091.96. The team is composed of members of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, family members and friends.
The Jimmy Fund has been the official charity of Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association since 1953. The 2024 Jimmy Fund Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 6, in Boston.
