Cancer patient helps bring cancer awareness to youth fundraisers

Jimmy Fund Clinic patient Tommy Joffrion, pictured with Lisa Scherber, Director of Patient and Family Programs at Dana-Farber, is this year’s Jimmy Fund Little League Designated Hitter

Tommy is a Jimmy Fund Clinic patient and the Designated Hitter for this year’s Jimmy Fund Little League season. As the face of Jimmy Fund Little League presented by Franklin Sports and Extra Innings, Tommy will stand up to the plate and help raise money for cancer research and patient care.

Tommy was diagnosed with Optic Pathway/Chiasm Glioma at the age of two, and shortly after with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). He has spent much of his young life in Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic. While undergoing cancer treatments there, Tommy befriended new patients to help them feel more comfortable. In the future, he hopes to create videos showing young patients like himself how to swallow pills and take medicine to make life with cancer a little easier.

Tommy’s positive attitude and willingness to help others has served as inspiration to nearly 5,000 Jimmy Fund Little League players across New England. Dom Nicaro, coach of the Jimmy Fund Little League team in Swampscott, Massachusetts uses Tommy’s story to help inspire his players to become all-stars on and off the field.

“Before our first practice, I shared Tommy’s story with the team. We discussed what the Jimmy Fund is and how cancer impacts families like Tommy’s,” said Coach Nicaro. “Tommy’s story has inspired a passion in our team. During practice we motivate each other by using him as a reference. If somebody needs extra inspiration we say ‘Would Tommy give up?’ and it helps the team rise to new levels on and off the field.”