Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway and Jimmy Fund Walk — 2023

The Jimmy Fund hosts annual community-based fundraising events, bringing together Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patients, generous donors, sponsors and volunteers who support Dana-Farber’s mission to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world.

Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway 2023

Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway presented by DraftKings provided unforgettable memories to participants who took the field, stepped up to the plate and ran the bases at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

Since 1992, the Jimmy Fund’s annual event at Fenway has raised more than $8.6 million for Dana-Farber’s mission to strike out cancer.

The event featured more than 30 Dana-Farber pediatric and adult cancer patients taking the field at Fenway Park and stepping into the same batter’s box Jimmy Fund heroes Ted Williams and Brock Holt stood countless times during their distinguished Red Sox careers.

In addition to batting packages, the Jimmy Fund offers fielding packages for individuals and groups supporting the fight against cancer while participating in the unique event.

Opportunities to sponsor a Dana-Farber patient are also available to supporters who may choose to support the event virtually or from the Fenway Park grandstands.

Volunteer positions included leading warm-up batting sessions in Fenway Park visitor’s batting cages before patients stepped up to the plate at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway Teams

The event also features participating teams, including Team Russo, which has supported the event for 20 years and raised more than $2 million in total for Dana-Farber.

Notably, Team Russo received the 2021 Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award, presented annually by the Red Sox to individuals or groups who have demonstrated longstanding commitment to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Additional winners include WEEI Sports Radio Network, Red Sox Hall of Famer Johnny Pesky, and Jimmy Fund Little League program director John Berardi.

Fenway Park videoboard honoring the Russo family, which supports Dana-Farber in memory of Rob Russo Jr., a former Dana-Farber patient who passed away in 2020 due to gastrointestinal stromal tumor (Source: Team Russo’s Fundraising Page)

2023 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

The Jimmy Fund’s community of participants, employees, patients and volunteers rallied together for the 2023 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on October 1.

This year’s event marked the 35th annual Jimmy Fund Walk since the Walk’s inception in 1989.

The course offers 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon distances for participating walkers and teams.

Throughout each route, walkers are inspired by posters featuring Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes, who are Dana-Farber adult and pediatric cancer patients who share their stories and remind walkers of their life-saving support for cancer research and patient care. Jimmy Fund Walk Hero posters also serve as mile and half-mile markers.

Walkers each year are provided T-shirts, bibs, medals and hats. Hats were available to be picked up at Early-Check In at Wellesley High School–white for walkers, red for team captains, blue for pacesetters, and gold for cancer patients and survivors.

Jimmy Fund Walk Hero posters at the Finish Line, located at 73 Brookline Ave directly across from Fenway Park.

Volunteers support the Walk at various stations including walker check-in, food and beverage distribution, medal distribution, and bus loading at various locations along the 26.2-mile route and Early Check-In one day prior to the walk.

Registration for the 2024 Jimmy Fund Walk will open in February 2024.

Throughout its 75-year history, the Jimmy Fund has remained a life-saving grassroots movement of community leaders throughout New England coordinating events ranging from golf tournaments to video game livestreams to raise money for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber.