From the Bridge to the Walk: Hannah the Hero

Each fall, pediatric patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund Clinic stand along the bridge connecting Dana-Farber’s Dana and Yawkey buildings, waving down to participants in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. This moment has become a hallmark of the annual event—an inspirational reminder of the importance of the walker’s efforts.

In September 2017, 2-year-old Hannah and her parents stood on that bridge, waving down, as they took a break from Hannah’s leukemia treatment to cheer on the thousands of walkers below.

Fast forward to September 2019: after two years of treatment, Hannah was gearing up to complete her final round of chemo, and was healthy enough to join the crowd on the street before walking in the Jimmy Fund Walk.

Standing on the pavement of Jimmy Fund Way, looking up at the bridge, Hannah, donning a pink superhero costume, held a sign with a message for the other kids looking down at her now.

“We stood up there 2 years ago” the sign read—an inspirational and supportive message from 4-year-old Hannah to the other kids up on the bridge.

“It was a long hard road Hannah travelled during her 25 months of treatment,” said Hannah’s mom, Michelle. “But we never wavered. We had 100% trust in our doctors. We thank our lucky stars that Hannah was treated at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund Clinic.”

On October 4, walk the Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way—in your neighborhood, an area hiking trail, a treadmill, or anywhere you like. With your help, Dana-Farber can fuel the research and care that help superheroes like Hannah.

The Jimmy Fund Walk is together, wherever, against cancer. Register to walk virtually in the Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way.

Maureen Quinn
Philanthropy Communications, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute