Westwood resident is a champion fundraiser for the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk

The first year Janet Schwartz, 58, of Westwood, participated in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk, her son, Todd, then 18 and battling cancer, was there to greet her with a smile at every checkpoint along the 26.2 mile route. Her emotions were high. Her pace was moderate. Her determination to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute was at an all-time high.

On Sunday, Sept. 8, Schwartz will participate in the 25th anniversary Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk for what will be her eleventh consecutive Walk experience in honor of her son, who succumbed to rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer in which malignant tumors attach to the bone, in 2002. Schwartz will be joined by her father, Melvin Perlmutter, who at the age of 92 will meet her near Fenway to support his daughter, pay tribute to his late grandson and cross the finish line. Schwartz is a participant who has walked hundreds of miles and raised more money for the cause than the 600 participants generated in the first Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk in 1989. To date, she has raised more than $214,800 for the cause.

“The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk is an important event because raising money for the cause is comparable to making an investment in our future and our children’s futures,” says Schwartz. “Almost everyone has been affected by cancer and this event provides participants with an opportunity to keep the legacy of loved ones who have passed alive while allowing us to move forward. Whatever participants can raise, whether they walk one mile or the full 26.2 miles, every little bit counts.”

The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai is a one-day charity walk that supports all cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and raises the most money of any single-day walk in the nation. The event provides participants a unique opportunity to walk the historic Boston Athletic Association’s (BAA) Boston Marathon® route and to raise money for Dana-Farber. The BAA has supported the Jimmy Fund Walk for 25 years. In 1989, participants for the first Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk raised $161,000. Since its inception, the Walk has raised nearly $87 million. On Sunday, Sept. 8, an expected 8,500 people will participate in the 25th anniversary event with the goal of raising more than $7 million.

Year after year, Schwartz walks as part of Team Todd, a group of 30 participants representing friends and family of Todd who raise money to support Dr. Loren Walensky’s laboratory at Dana-Farber which focuses on developing treatments for pediatric cancer patients. On June 8, Schwartz hosted the 11th annual Todd J. Schwartz Softball Classic to benefit the Jimmy Fund’s Annual Summer Festival, a carnival event for Jimmy Fund Clinic patients and their families. To date, the event has raised more than $430,000. Team Todd is actively seeking new members to participate with them during the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

“The Walk is something you can do as an individual and as part of a team to really make a difference in the lives of people affected by cancer,” says Schwartz. “You don’t have to be a superstar or an athlete to make an impact. Rather, you can go at your own pace and make it your own event while raising money for an important cause.”

To register for the 25th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) on Sept. 8, or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registration is easy and walkers can enter the discount code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee.