There's Still Time to Register for the Upcoming 2015 Jimmy Fund Walk in September - Save $5 Off Registration NOW!!! #JimmyFundWalk #ad

Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Register Now For the 

2015 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk!

Photo credit to John Deputy

See You There!

The 2015 Jimmy Fund Walk is fast approaching -- exactly one month from tomorrow.  My family and I are gearing up for the 3 mile walk from Dana Farber Cancer Institute to Copley Square.  This is just one of four routes walkers who register for the 2015 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai and help Dana-Farber Cancer Institute can chose.  The other starting points include:  Hopkinton, which is a 26.2-mile walk; Wellesley, a 13.1-mile walk and Boston College, a 5-mile walk.  All routes finish at the Copley Square finish area in Boston where walkers will enjoy live music and food, and can celebrate their fundraising achievements.

Photo credit to John Deputy

Why did I choose this route?  If you don't follow my blog regularly, you may not be aware that I, myself, am a cancer survivor. This past May parted 7 years in remission from stage 2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.  This is a rare head and neck cancer which affects about 2% off the US popular and is usually seen in older adults and those of Asian descent.  Leave it to me to get a rare of cancer in my late 20's.  But, thanks to the amazing doctors and staff at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where I received my cancer care, I am happy to say I kicked cancer's butt, and am living each day now as a gift.  

Photo credit to John Deputy

Not only is being in remission a gift, but I am also blessed with two beautiful girls -- which doctors didn't think I would be able to have, as I had to undergo both radiation and high dose chemotherapy treatment for my form of cancer.  I began my cancer treatment in March of 2008 and finished the end of May that same year.  And, by fall of the following year, I found I out I was pregnant with Savannah, and then Bella the next year.  

Miracles do happen...I am living proof of this each and every day thanks to the folks at Dana Farber Cancer Institute!

My girls are my world, and now that they are older -- Savannah is 5 yrs. old and Bella is almost 4 (this November), I wanted to do something special to celebrate my 7 years in remission and thought participating in the 2015 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, would be perfect, as I have never walked before.  

Savannah can't wait to walk in the 2015 Jimmy Fund Walk...

Look for her in her Red Jimmy Fund Hat! :-)

While my girls are still too young to understand what happened to me, I will definitely be sharing my cancer journey with them and reassuring them that will yearly checkups at Dana Farber and taking care of myself, I plan to stay in remission and live a long and healthy life, watching them grow, marry and have children of their own.  I will also be sharing with them stories of their relatives, including my aunt and grandparents who are no longer with us, as cancer took their lives.  I know I am not alone in having to experience cancer in some way.  You may be a cancer survivor yourself or know someone who is...or, you may be a caregiver to someone currently battling cancer, or had to watch someone very close to you lose their battle. 

While there may never be a cure for cancer, I hope that through continued research and testing that more treatment options will be available to those affected by cancer, that will put them in remission, just like me.  Cancer is fight no one should have to go through, but with the expertise and compassion offered by doctors and staff at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, know you or a loved one will be in good hands.  I owe Dana Farber Cancer Institute my life, and am so grateful to have the opportunity to walk with my family on September 27th in Boston with so many other cancer survivors, supporters, etc., all looking to take steps towards a cancer-free world.  I hope you will join me in  this walk to raise money to support extensive treatment, research and development, to conquer all cancers in children and adults  Through fundraising efforts of walkers (both in person and as a virtual walker - Learn more about participating as a virtual walker here), we can raise money that is vital to Dana Farber, as they focus on continued research and patient care, so that more and more people can say "I kicked cancer's butt!," just like I get to. :-)

Photo credit to John Deputy

There is still time to register for the upcoming 2015 Jimmy Fund Walk.  And, right now you can save $5 off registration by using coupon code "BLOG" when you register yourself or a team at http://budurl.com/ewkz.  I, for one, and loving the many tools available to help with raising money for this worthwhile cause.  And, depending on goals and fundraising milestones you reach, you can be rewarded with Jimmy Fund Walk swag, Red Sox tickets and more.

I have taking advice from previous Jimmy Fund walkers on how to raise more money for this worthwhile cause.  In addition to reaching out to family and friends and asking for their support, as well as donating myself in honor of family members I have lost to cancer, I have also been using the Walk Facebook app to promote my team, Team McCoy.   

So far, I have raised $600 towards my $1,000 goal, thanks in part to this fundraising app, which is a cinch to set up and use.

Also, my hope in sharing this and my previous Jimmy Fund Walk blog post last month, is to raise awareness of this walk, encourage you to walk, or at least give, as we all have been affected by cancer in one way or another.  Every little bit helps...won't you join me and so many others already registered for the walk, in raising crucial funds for research and patient care at Dana Farber?  

So, what are you waiting for?  Register to walk or donate today!  Hope to see on September 27th in Boston! :-)

Photo credit to John Deputy

Stay up-to-date on all things related to the upcoming Sept. 27th 2015 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk by following the Jimmy Fund Walk on Facebook, Twitter (hashtag #JimmyFundWalk) and YouTube.

Disclosure: I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.