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WHY WE'RE FUNDRAISING WITH THE JIMMY FUND WALK TO FIGHT CANCER
Move 4 Heather Challenge (#m4h) and Do What Moves You!
In July 2021, Heather Walker, a fun-loving, free-spirted wife and mom of two young daughters, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer: glioblastoma. In the face of this challenge, Heather immediately thought of how she could help others and started the Heather Walker Fund for Glioblastoma Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she is being treated.
Heather is an inspirational woman who loves life. We’re asking you to Move 4 Heather (#m4h) by following these steps:
1. Reach deep into your bucket list and do something that moves you. It can be something big like diving with sharks or something small like trying a new food.
2. Take a photo or video of you accomplishing this bucket list item and use the hashtag #m4h.
3. Make your donation to the Heather Walker Fund online on our fundraising page or by mailing a check:
Make checks out to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and mail to:
Move for Heather, Heather Walker C/O Dana-Farber
50 Pilgrim Road, Marblehead, MA 01945
4. Now the fun part! Challenge 3 friends to PARTICIPATE AND DONATE by tagging them on social media, emailing them, calling them up, however you want to reach them.
Social Media:
Check out our social media pages here to see how others are Moving 4 Heather:
- WCBV Interview with Maria Stephanos
- WCBV Follow-Up On GBM Treatment
- Boston Globe Article
- Boston Celtics Video
- NESN Interview
- Jimmy Fund Blog Post
- "Shopping for a Cause"
- Boston.Com Coverage 3/13
- WCBV Heroes Among Us Coverage 3/13
Where will your donation go?
The money raised will go directly to the Heather Walker Glioblastoma Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This fund will create massive and much needed awareness for this orphan form of cancer. Dr. Reardon at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is currently overseeing a trial in collaboration with the DNA/RNA sequencing facilities at the MIT Broad Institute using immunotherapy to combat Glioblastoma by creating a vaccine to eradicate it. Your dollars will have a direct impact on Heather and hundreds of others immediately who are fighting this very difficult form of brain cancer. All donations made through this page are tax deductible gifts to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and will receive an email receipt.
On the vaccine: Heather’s vaccine treatment is called “Neovax”. DFCI, led by Dr. Reardon, are is conducting a trial in collaboration with a MIT group of researchers at the Broad Institute. The researchers do all required sequencing to help identify tumor specific mutations that are expressed as aberrant proteins uniquely by the tumor cells which can then be targeted by the vaccine. Neovax is a personalized, vaccine based on genetic sequencing of tumor vs normal cells to identify mutations giving rise to abnormal proteins that are only found on tumor cells. The vaccine includes up to 20 such targets per patient and is highly specific and robust for each person’s tumor.
Why the funding matters now: Many of the clinical trials (including Neovax) used to treat Glioblastoma patients are funded directly by philanthropy dollars. The research is complex and time-consuming and philanthropic funding allows more research to happen and faster which leads to better patient outcomes. Immunotherapy treatments, like what Heather is receiving, are currently taking 2-3 months to turn around. Ideally, Dr. Reardon would like to expedite these treatments to a 2-3 week timeline as urgency is critical for the patient. Philanthropy dollars allow Dr. Reardon and his team to strategically combine efforts to have the most impact on the patient population. There’s no lack of possibilities but there are limited resources. Philanthropy support can increase resources and allow research to have the biggest impact on patients. The funding will help us continue to advance this Neovax platform and expand it to be more available and more effective for GBM patients.
Who is HEATHER WALKER?
Heather is a fun loving, free spirited lover of life and generous soul. She grew up and lives on the North Shore of Boston and currently lives in Marblehead with her incredible husband Stephen and two wonderful young daughters Sammy and Taylor along with Lexie, her sweet yellow lab.
Heather is known to spontaneously jump in a kayak, hop on a paddle board, cruise on water skis or just ski, get whipped around tubing, running like crazy with her Peloton. She is a lobster lovin' gal who always lives life to the fullest. She even kayaked with 7 men (including her husband) from Boston to Provincetown to raise money for the Pan Mass Challenge Annual Bikeathon for Cancer Research...no easy feat!
She is an inspiring friend who is a practical jokester and said upon her diagnosis "If we don't laugh then there is no point in doing this".
Heather is the VP of Public Relations for the Boston Celtics and a beloved member of their team and the Boston community as a whole. She started in 2008 and it's no wonder they won a championship in less than a year after she started!
Please help us fight with/for this warrior by championing for her to take this disease head on by participating in this challenge and raising money for the Heather Walker Glioblastoma Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Who has been affected by glioblastoma?
Beau Biden, John McCain, Ted Kennedy, Litsa Menounos (Maria's mother) and many others have valiantly fought and sadly succumbed to this devastating disease.
Information on glioblastoma research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:
THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM MEMBERS
= Team CaptainTHANK YOU TO OUR TEAM DONORS
