Hopkinton: 24 residents will participate in the Jimmy Fund Walk in 2024
The 36th annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk is set for Sunday, October 6, 2024. This event, which has raised over $176 million in its 35-year history, supports cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The event raised a record-breaking $9.4 million in 2023.
Myra Tamba, Paul Decker, Dia Pungaliya, Jacqueline Zeigler, David Shapiro, Aimee Cole, Stephanie Shepardson, Kinjal Rajesh Vaman Mehta, Lexi Boulanger, Arun Pungaliya, and 14 other Hopkinton residents, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in the iconic annual event.
“For 35 years, the Jimmy Fund Walk has continuously supported lifesaving research and cancer care at Dana-Farber. Our goal is to build off of the momentum we’ve established throughout that history, and in 2024, aim to surpass our total from last year by raising $9.5 million,” says Caitlin Fink, assistant vice president of event fundraising. “Fighting cancer is what we do. The Walk unites our community under a common goal —to defy cancer together.”
Yvonne Riley’s Inspiring Journey
Yvonne Riley embodies the dedication and resilience of the Jimmy Fund Walk. Her journey began in 2011 when her son was a Cub Scout, and the group rallied around a fellow Scout, Ben Wheeler, whose 3-year-old brother Christian was battling leukemia.
Muriel Kramer, another Cub Scout mom, proposed an idea: let’s give Ben a way to feel empowered as part Christian’s journey. Yvonne, along with Kim, jumped on board, and they soon brought the idea to Sue Wheeler, the boys’ mother. The rest is history.
The team, made up of four 9-year-old Cub Scouts (Ben Wheeler, Ethan Kramer, Jack Brennan, and Jack Riley) and three 12-year-old girls (Samantha Riley, Julianna Kramer, and Beka Pohl), needed a team name. Inspired by their co-captain and poster child, 3-year-old Christian, they became “Christian’s Hot Jamaican Chili Pepper Crusaders,” with the cool moms leading the charge.
Starting from Wellesley College, the team set out on a 13-mile journey, with Yvonne and the other moms motivating the kids with the promise of ice cream halfway at a shop near Boston College (BC). Over time, their group expanded as more families joined, but the ice cream stop remained a cherished tradition.
Yvonne, committed as ever, missed only one year for a family trip to Ireland, and even during the pandemic, the team kept their spirit alive with virtual walks.
Despite facing serious health issues in 2024—bunion surgery on one foot and a broken, dislocated toe on the other—Yvonne didn’t let that stop her. She adapted her participation, setting an ambitious goal: 100 miles on trails over 100 days, from September 1 to December 1.
Her vow to continue walking until cancer research is no longer needed shows the depth of her commitment. Yvonne’s story isn’t just about walking—it’s about refusing to quit. Meanwhile, Christian, now Chris, is thriving, thanks to the incredible doctors at Dana Farber.
2024 Jimmy Fund Event Details
Participants can choose from four distance options:
- Full marathon (starting in Hopkinton)
- Half marathon (from Wellesley)
- 10K walk (from Newton)
- 5K walk (from Dana-Farber’s Longwood Medical Campus)
A virtual option is also available for those unable to attend in person. The finish line has been moved to the Boston Common due to ongoing construction in Copley Square. Participants can enjoy festivities that include food, entertainment, and community spirit.
The Jimmy Fund is the only organized walk permitted to use the iconic Boston Marathon route.
How to Participate in this years Jimmy Fund Walk – its not too late
To register or to support a walker, go here or call (866) 531-9255. Use promo code WALK for a $5 discount on registration. All registered walkers receive a bib, medal, and Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.
Volunteers are also needed to support the event in various capacities. To volunteer, go here.
The Jimmy Fund Walk unites the community in the fight against cancer, with inspiring stories like Yvonne’s showing that every step counts in this crucial cause.
