Spring 2025
By Casey Reis
Photography by Reza Allah-Bakhshi, Josh Campbell, John Deputy, Sasha Pedro
It was 65 degrees with blue skies and sunshine as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patients and families, clinicians and scientists, and their supporters gathered for a day of hope and unity last fall at the Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. The Jimmy Fund Walk, now in its 37th year, is Dana-Farber’s signature event, raising the most money of any single-day walk in the nation. Since 1989, dedicated participants have returned to the world-famous Boston Marathon® course to walk together against cancer. This steadfast community of support continued to train and fundraise throughout the final year of The Dana-Farber Campaign, culminating at the October 6 event which saw more than 8,400 participants raising nearly $9.4 million and propelling the Walk’s lifetime total to more than $185 million raised for revolutionary science and extraordinary care at Dana-Farber.
Participants could pick a distance along the Boston Marathon course, from a 5K to the full marathon, or walk virtually in a location of their choice. Walkers were cheered on by nearly 1,000 volunteers and drew motivation from each other and Hero posters along the course, featuring photographs and inspirational quotes from adult and pediatric patients. The Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line presented by Schneider Electric was held in the Boston Common, the nation’s oldest public park. There, walkers shared stories of courage and progress, and celebrated with lively music, complimentary food and beverages provided by generous sponsors, and a variety of activities, including a Ribbon Wall presented by Bristol Meyers Squibb, which attendees filled with handwritten messages of hope and remembrance. The finish line program also included motivational speeches and appearances by Dana-Farber leadership, patients, and presenting sponsor Hyundai, which has supported the Walk since 2002.
Dana-Farber social worker Marsha Joselow led Kessler’s Crew/PACT Pack—a team of 51 walkers—in its 26th Jimmy Fund Walk. The team was formed in memory of Richard “Rich” Kessler, Marsha’s late husband, who passed away from non-Hodgkin lymphoma 29 years ago. Kessler’s Crew/ PACT Pack walks in support of the Pediatric Advanced Care Team, or PACT, a team of clinicians who specialize in pediatric palliative care, aiming to support children with serious illnesses by promoting healing, comfort, and making childhood experiences meaningful. To date, the Kessler’s Crew/PACT Walk team has raised more than $780,000.
For Marsha, as for so many, leading a Jimmy Fund Walk team has been a healing experience. “It gave us an opportunity to do ‘something’ when we all felt nothing could take away the pain of losing Rich,” she explains. Today, Marsha continues to be inspired by the vast wave of walkers on Walk day, all touched by cancer. “The energy draws you forward.”
“I feel so fortunate to walk year after year with this extraordinary team, which includes clinicians, friends, supporters, and patient families,” Marsha reflects. “I walk to honor my late husband’s legacy, and more importantly, to support patients and their families.”
