Meet The A Team: Walking to Conquer Cancer

Van and her daughter Mia using their creative fundraising ideas to raise money for the #JimmyFundWalk.
Van and her daughter Mia using their creative fundraising ideas to raise money for the #JimmyFundWalk.

Since 1995, the A Team (A for Anthony) has been dedicated to supporting Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission to conquer cancer through the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. More than 20 team members join Team Captain, Chris Phung, along the historic Boston Marathon® route each September to raise critical funds for cancer research. Meet Chris, Van, and Mia – a few of the friendly faces that make up the A Team:

Chris Phung: The Veteran

After losing his brother Anthony to cancer at a young age, Chris established The A Team to honor his brother’s memory. A seasoned veteran and Walk Pacesetter, Chris has more than 20 years of #JimmyFundWalk memories under his belt.

“Participating in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk is a way for my family and me to carry on my brother’s memory. Anthony lost his battle with cancer, but we hope that through our efforts others won’t have to fight theirs at all,” explains Chris.

Chris leads the team as the Captain, and encourages them with his creative fundraising ideas. “If we meet our fundraising goal of $50,000 before Walk day this year, I will wear a tutu with Mia or another fun outfit of my team’s choosing!”

Van Phung: The Newbie

Four years ago Van Phung joined the A Team and walks in honor of her Aunt Helen Phung. Like Chris, Van is full of creative fundraising ideas that help contribute to the team’s fundraising goals.

“I began practicing yoga within the last year and I have tied it into my participation with the #JimmyFundWalk. I used Instagram to post photos of yoga poses and dedicate them to donors or call attention to my, or my daughter Mia’s, fundraising goals.”

Mia stopped to do a pose and thank an anonymous donor at Mile 25 of the 2014 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai.
Mia stopped to do a pose and thank an anonymous donor at Mile 25 of the 2014 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai.

Mia Phung: The Young Pacesetter

Van’s daughter Mia completed her fourth Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk in 2014. Mia walks with her mother to remember her late Uncle Anthony and Great Aunt Helen. Mia loves wearing tutus, which inspired the mother-daughter duo’s 2014 Walk day outfits!

Like the members of The A Team, each #JimmyFundWalk team comprises friends, family, and colleagues who bring their unique views and passions to the group. Whether walking the 26.2-mile route or the Dana-Farber 3-mile route, each team on the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk course comprises participants of all ages walking toward a common goal: a world without cancer.

Do you plan to walk this year? Tell us why you walk in the comments!

Katie Connors
Account Manager/Writer, Development Communications