Fall 2024
By Kayla McMahon
This year’s annual Giving Day marked an especially generous occasion for dedicated supporters of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. On May 22, contributors came together to support the final months of The Dana-Farber Campaign, our ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer.
The more than $704,000 raised for The Defy Cancer Fund and other initiatives on Giving Day surpassed the fundraising goal of $500,000—a success attributed to the commitment of nearly 3,200 supporters, as well as the generous Dana-Farber Trustee who volunteered to triple their gifts, up to a total of $250,000.
The Defy Cancer Fund provides unrestricted funding, which allows Dana-Farber to pursue innovative early stage research, speed new drugs into clinical trials, expand access to care and reduce cancer disparities, and support special programs to address the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. This flexible funding is vital to our mission. To recognize Giving Day, adult and pediatric patients shared their inspiring stories of courage and hope, illustrating the difference these funds have made in their lives and for their families.
Norma-Rose, an 11-year-old pediatric patient in Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic, was one of the brave individuals who shared their stories and encouraged others to support Dana-Farber’s mission. At just 5 years old, she was diagnosed with pineoblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer. Her mother, Pauldine, recalled the initial shock when she found out her daughter had cancer. “I was in disbelief when Norma-Rose received her diagnosis,” she said. “But once we met the care team at Dana-Farber, we knew we would be in good hands and immediately felt a sense of comfort.”
Today, Norma-Rose continues to receive treatment at Dana-Farber. She looks forward to visiting members of her dedicated care team, who make her feel welcome, comfortable, and even play games with her during each visit. She doesn’t let cancer stop her from being a kid—and is, happily, “still me, Norma-Rose.”
Norma-Rose’s life has been forever affected by cancer. Each Giving Day and every day, she, along with many other Dana-Farber patients, shows supporters across the globe they can make a difference and provide hope to patients and families. The incredible support and generosity of our community continues to propel Dana-Farber forward, bringing us one step closer to a world free of the burden of cancer.