Chris McCann
Founder, NSMC Cancer WALK
The idea for the first Cancer WALK grew from brainstorming sessions I had with Mike Geaney, who was the CEO of Salem Hospital at the time, and Dr. Joseph Halperin, who was the Chief of Medical Oncology. In 1991, we had a vision to relocate the hospital’s cancer program to an independent facility at Centennial Park in Peabody—which later became the first Cancer Center—and we were looking for a way to raise funds. We also wanted to raise awareness of the scope of our services and our collaboration with Mass General.
Dr. Halperin was an avid cyclist and suggested a fundraiser like the Pan-Mass Challenge, but we wanted an event with broader appeal, where hundreds from the community, young and old, rich and poor, could participate. That’s when we decided that a walk would be ideal!
The next decision was to name the event—The Salem Hospital Cancer WALK. In 1991, cancer wasn’t talked about as openly as it is today. There was concern that people would be reluctant to support an event with the “C” word so prominent. But we felt that this was the time to educate people, to promote awareness and early detection of cancer. The WALK would be an opportunity to feature the wide range of support and services that were available for cancer patients and their families, close to home, here on the North Shore. The WALK also would let patients and their families know that they weren’t going through this terrible illness alone and that there are success stories. It also would give them a way to honor the memories of those who had fought valiantly against cancer.
Since broad-based community support would be critical to our success, we enlisted as co-chairs one of the top businessmen in our community, Tri-City Sales owner David Cohen, and the president of the 600-member Salem Hospital Aid Association, Diane Barbour. They soon led a committee of 85 that organized, recruited, and solicited walkers, teams, and sponsors from across the North Shore.
Our goal that first year was to have 1,500 walkers participate and raise $100,000. But on Sunday, June 23, 1991, more than 5,000 walkers marched the 10K route through downtown Salem and raised $247,000. Needless to say, it was a huge celebration!
My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 and had surgery at NSMC. I’m happy to say that he’s a survivor. He hasn’t missed a single WALK, and we’ll be at the Willows again this year with our family for the 20th anniversary.
The success of the WALK would not have been possible without the outpouring of support from the medical center’s employees, our patients and their families, the city of Salem, and businesses across the entire North Shore community. As a fundraiser, I’m proud of the millions of dollars that have been raised to provide the best cancer care right here in our backyard. But I am most proud to have personally known countless patients who have been touched by the Cancer WALK during these 20 years. Their courage still inspires me!
The idea for the first Cancer WALK grew from brainstorming sessions I had with Mike Geaney, who was the CEO of Salem Hospital at the time, and Dr. Joseph Halperin, who was the Chief of Medical Oncology. In 1991, we had a vision to relocate the hospital’s cancer program to an independent facility at Centennial Park in Peabody—which later became the first Cancer Center—and we were looking for a way to raise funds. We also wanted to raise awareness of the scope of our services and our collaboration with Mass General.
Dr. Halperin was an avid cyclist and suggested a fundraiser like the Pan-Mass Challenge, but we wanted an event with broader appeal, where hundreds from the community, young and old, rich and poor, could participate. That’s when we decided that a walk would be ideal!
The next decision was to name the event—The Salem Hospital Cancer WALK. In 1991, cancer wasn’t talked about as openly as it is today. There was concern that people would be reluctant to support an event with the “C” word so prominent. But we felt that this was the time to educate people, to promote awareness and early detection of cancer. The WALK would be an opportunity to feature the wide range of support and services that were available for cancer patients and their families, close to home, here on the North Shore. The WALK also would let patients and their families know that they weren’t going through this terrible illness alone and that there are success stories. It also would give them a way to honor the memories of those who had fought valiantly against cancer.
Since broad-based community support would be critical to our success, we enlisted as co-chairs one of the top businessmen in our community, Tri-City Sales owner David Cohen, and the president of the 600-member Salem Hospital Aid Association, Diane Barbour. They soon led a committee of 85 that organized, recruited, and solicited walkers, teams, and sponsors from across the North Shore.
Our goal that first year was to have 1,500 walkers participate and raise $100,000. But on Sunday, June 23, 1991, more than 5,000 walkers marched the 10K route through downtown Salem and raised $247,000. Needless to say, it was a huge celebration!
My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 and had surgery at NSMC. I’m happy to say that he’s a survivor. He hasn’t missed a single WALK, and we’ll be at the Willows again this year with our family for the 20th anniversary.
The success of the WALK would not have been possible without the outpouring of support from the medical center’s employees, our patients and their families, the city of Salem, and businesses across the entire North Shore community. As a fundraiser, I’m proud of the millions of dollars that have been raised to provide the best cancer care right here in our backyard. But I am most proud to have personally known countless patients who have been touched by the Cancer WALK during these 20 years. Their courage still inspires me!
Randy Brown
Business Manager, General Electric Lynn Manufacturing Operation; Team Captain, General Electric Team
The NSMC Cancer WALK is an annual tradition for our plant. This year’s WALK will be the 20th for our team.
General Electric is the largest team participant in the WALK. Each year, we put together a group of anywhere from 250 to 400 walkers. We have engineers, administrators, machinists, inspectors, and everyone in between—plus friends and family.
Volunteering and community service are an integral part of the GE culture, but the Cancer WALK is special. It has personal meaning for many of our employees whose own lives—or the lives of someone they know—have been touched by cancer. I personally got involved in 1996 to honor the memory of a friend’s wife who lost her battle with cancer when she was only in her 40s.
Every year, our team is joined or supported by colleagues who are dealing with the disease. The way they are able to go about their jobs and their lives is truly humbling. The fact that they can find the capacity to help others despite their own challenges inspires us all to keep going.
Coordinating a team of our size requires a lot of organization and planning. I work with a group of 20 to 30 team captains to recruit participants and donations and coordinate a silent auction and t-shirt design competition, among other activities. We work like crazy, but it’s a lot of fun.
The WALK truly is a team effort because it brings together people from different areas throughout GE. We not only end up with the best ideas but we also get to develop relationships with colleagues we may not have known before.
Over the years, we’ve gotten to know many of the Cancer Center staff. They always impress us with how supportive, sensitive, and sincere they are. We are fortunate to have such a resource in our community.
For me, the best part of the WALK comes when it’s over and I look back at photos taken during the event. While we’re planning for the WALK, we push ourselves and each other to raise as much money as we can. You forget all about that hard work when you see the joy on peoples’ faces and remember that there’s a story behind each one.
Rose Watson
The NSMC Cancer WALK is an annual tradition for our plant. This year’s WALK will be the 20th for our team.
General Electric is the largest team participant in the WALK. Each year, we put together a group of anywhere from 250 to 400 walkers. We have engineers, administrators, machinists, inspectors, and everyone in between—plus friends and family.
Volunteering and community service are an integral part of the GE culture, but the Cancer WALK is special. It has personal meaning for many of our employees whose own lives—or the lives of someone they know—have been touched by cancer. I personally got involved in 1996 to honor the memory of a friend’s wife who lost her battle with cancer when she was only in her 40s.
Every year, our team is joined or supported by colleagues who are dealing with the disease. The way they are able to go about their jobs and their lives is truly humbling. The fact that they can find the capacity to help others despite their own challenges inspires us all to keep going.
Coordinating a team of our size requires a lot of organization and planning. I work with a group of 20 to 30 team captains to recruit participants and donations and coordinate a silent auction and t-shirt design competition, among other activities. We work like crazy, but it’s a lot of fun.
The WALK truly is a team effort because it brings together people from different areas throughout GE. We not only end up with the best ideas but we also get to develop relationships with colleagues we may not have known before.
Over the years, we’ve gotten to know many of the Cancer Center staff. They always impress us with how supportive, sensitive, and sincere they are. We are fortunate to have such a resource in our community.
For me, the best part of the WALK comes when it’s over and I look back at photos taken during the event. While we’re planning for the WALK, we push ourselves and each other to raise as much money as we can. You forget all about that hard work when you see the joy on peoples’ faces and remember that there’s a story behind each one.
Rose Watson
Patient Services Coordinator, Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center; Co-team captain, Living Proof; Cancer Survivor
I began working in the Radiology department at Salem Hospital in 1994. That same year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and walked in my first NSMC Cancer WALK. I credit Dr. Steven McAfee and early detection to a relatively quick treatment regimen—surgery only, with no chemotherapy or radiation. I continued to participate in the WALK for the next six years, never imagining that one day I would work at the Cancer Center and see firsthand the enormous difference the WALK makes in the lives of patients every day.
In 2001, I applied for a part-time job at the Cancer Center. I loved the job and the place immediately—and I still do. I always try to give our patients lots of encouragement to face their treatments and to expect a good outcome. After all, I am “living proof.” Over time, I have become a patient advocate, lobbying doctors and nurses to make changes to improve the comfort and efficiency of the Cancer Center. I’m happy to say that the doctors listen to me!
Cancer touched my life again three years ago when I lost my husband, Tom, to the disease. Less than a month later, I found myself at the Willows, preparing to head out on another WALK. Now, I had more reason to walk than ever.
Despite all that has happened, the WALK remains a life-affirming experience for me. I know many of the patients personally and it’s great to see them at the WALK and give them a hug. For me, the highlight always is crossing the finish line. It means I made it in more ways than one—we all have.
Since joining the Cancer Center in 2001, I have been amazed at the constant improvements to the facility that were made possible because of the Cancer WALK. And, now, with the new Cancer Center in Danvers we have a place that truly matches the state-of-the-art care we provide. I can’t see myself stopping work at the Cancer Center or on the WALK anytime soon!
Dick Moore
Former Board Chair, North Shore Medical Center Foundation; Retired Senior Vice President, Eastern Bank Wealth Management; WALK Finance Volunteer
Judy Moore
North Shore Medical Center Development Office Administrator; WALK Finance Volunteer
Dick: We’ve been part of the Cancer WALK since day one. I was on Salem Hospital’s Planned Giving Committee and was working at the Naumkeag Trust Company. Chris McCann, founder of the WALK, called and asked if I would handle the finances for an event the hospital was organizing to raise money for the cancer program. I’m the treasurer of the Topsfield Fair, so I got several volunteers from our cash room to help out with that first WALK. We’re all still counting the money for the WALK today.
Judy: We weren’t sure what to expect that first year. We thought the WALK would be a nice event for the community and maybe raise around $50,000. We started counting the money at 8:30 in the morning and finished around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We ended up with $275,000. I remember Chris coming into the cash room and all of us crying. It far exceeded our wildest dreams, and it’s only grown since then.
Dick: One of the most memorable years was 1999, when Jack Welch, the famous General Electric CEO, was the honorary WALK chairman. I was the chair of the Charitable Foundation, and a group of us went to Connecticut to meet with him. He’s originally from Salem and he felt a great sense of responsibility for making the WALK a success. He asked for a short list of CEOs in the area and called each of them personally. His participation propelled the WALK to the $1 million mark that year.
Judy: That was a special milestone for all of us. I remember thinking, my goodness, we started out hoping to raise $50,000 and now we’ve hit $1 million! It showed just how deeply people believed in the cause.
Dick: They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think the same is true for providing top cancer care. As I look back over the years, I’m struck by all the good the WALK has done. Just look at the alliance with Mass General, the state-of-the-art Cancer Center in Danvers, and the inspiring stories of the thousands of patients who have benefited from the care they received at North Shore Medical Center.
Judy: We always hope that each WALK will be our last one because there will be a cure for cancer. But, for now, we’re happy to do what we can to help NSMC continue to deliver the best care to the North Shore community.
I began working in the Radiology department at Salem Hospital in 1994. That same year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and walked in my first NSMC Cancer WALK. I credit Dr. Steven McAfee and early detection to a relatively quick treatment regimen—surgery only, with no chemotherapy or radiation. I continued to participate in the WALK for the next six years, never imagining that one day I would work at the Cancer Center and see firsthand the enormous difference the WALK makes in the lives of patients every day.
In 2001, I applied for a part-time job at the Cancer Center. I loved the job and the place immediately—and I still do. I always try to give our patients lots of encouragement to face their treatments and to expect a good outcome. After all, I am “living proof.” Over time, I have become a patient advocate, lobbying doctors and nurses to make changes to improve the comfort and efficiency of the Cancer Center. I’m happy to say that the doctors listen to me!
Cancer touched my life again three years ago when I lost my husband, Tom, to the disease. Less than a month later, I found myself at the Willows, preparing to head out on another WALK. Now, I had more reason to walk than ever.
Despite all that has happened, the WALK remains a life-affirming experience for me. I know many of the patients personally and it’s great to see them at the WALK and give them a hug. For me, the highlight always is crossing the finish line. It means I made it in more ways than one—we all have.
Since joining the Cancer Center in 2001, I have been amazed at the constant improvements to the facility that were made possible because of the Cancer WALK. And, now, with the new Cancer Center in Danvers we have a place that truly matches the state-of-the-art care we provide. I can’t see myself stopping work at the Cancer Center or on the WALK anytime soon!
Dick Moore
Former Board Chair, North Shore Medical Center Foundation; Retired Senior Vice President, Eastern Bank Wealth Management; WALK Finance Volunteer
Judy Moore
North Shore Medical Center Development Office Administrator; WALK Finance Volunteer
Dick: We’ve been part of the Cancer WALK since day one. I was on Salem Hospital’s Planned Giving Committee and was working at the Naumkeag Trust Company. Chris McCann, founder of the WALK, called and asked if I would handle the finances for an event the hospital was organizing to raise money for the cancer program. I’m the treasurer of the Topsfield Fair, so I got several volunteers from our cash room to help out with that first WALK. We’re all still counting the money for the WALK today.
Judy: We weren’t sure what to expect that first year. We thought the WALK would be a nice event for the community and maybe raise around $50,000. We started counting the money at 8:30 in the morning and finished around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We ended up with $275,000. I remember Chris coming into the cash room and all of us crying. It far exceeded our wildest dreams, and it’s only grown since then.
Dick: One of the most memorable years was 1999, when Jack Welch, the famous General Electric CEO, was the honorary WALK chairman. I was the chair of the Charitable Foundation, and a group of us went to Connecticut to meet with him. He’s originally from Salem and he felt a great sense of responsibility for making the WALK a success. He asked for a short list of CEOs in the area and called each of them personally. His participation propelled the WALK to the $1 million mark that year.
Judy: That was a special milestone for all of us. I remember thinking, my goodness, we started out hoping to raise $50,000 and now we’ve hit $1 million! It showed just how deeply people believed in the cause.
Dick: They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think the same is true for providing top cancer care. As I look back over the years, I’m struck by all the good the WALK has done. Just look at the alliance with Mass General, the state-of-the-art Cancer Center in Danvers, and the inspiring stories of the thousands of patients who have benefited from the care they received at North Shore Medical Center.
Judy: We always hope that each WALK will be our last one because there will be a cure for cancer. But, for now, we’re happy to do what we can to help NSMC continue to deliver the best care to the North Shore community.
Fran Carbrey
WALK Administrator, 1991-2005
When we started the Cancer WALK in 1991, our goal was to bring help and hope to patients and their families through the building of the Cancer Center. We wanted the WALK to be something that would grow and sustain itself over time.
The WALK has always been about the patients. That was true during the 15 years I was involved in planning the WALK, and it’s the same spirit that drives the WALK today.
I loved working on the WALK because I knew that we were helping people and making a difference in their lives. We used to get so excited when patients would come into our office before the WALK to help out, to drop off money or to visit. It always gave us a lift and reminded us what we were working toward. At one point, we had almost 20 volunteers—and some of them are still helping out today.
The WALK is such a popular event because it brings the community together in a common cause. There isn’t a family on the North Shore that doesn’t have a link to cancer, whether it’s through a loved one, a friend, or a neighbor. That’s why so many people want to do whatever they can to help.
I’m retired now, but I remember the WALK as a time to step back and take stock. Each year, when I saw the thousands of people gathered at the Willows, I was struck by the fact that they all were there for a reason—to rally for each other and for the patients. Each person, no matter how sick they were or how deeply cancer had affected their lives, always had a smile on their face.
Brian Cranney
Owner, Cranney Companies and Cranney Home Services; Chair, WALK Logistics Committee
The first year of the Cancer WALK, I participated as a walker. I was in the Salem Rotary, and a group of Rotarians had formed a team. I was overwhelmed by the sight of thousands of people walking for a cause so close to their hearts. I decided that from then on I needed to get more involved.
For the last 18 years, I’ve been organizing the logistics of the WALK. Our team gets down to the Willows around 5:30 a.m. on WALK day and we’re there until about noon. We have a great group of volunteers—from bus drivers to parking attendants to people at the registration desk. Many of us have worked on this event together for years, so we’ve got it down to a science.
I always call the Cancer WALK “The People’s Walk.” From the beginning, North Shore Medical Center found a way to get the average person involved and to show them how the money raised directly benefits the entire community—from the building of the first Cancer Center in Peabody to the new facility in Danvers. People know that if they should ever need cancer care, we have the best right here at home.
The day of the WALK is an emotional rollercoaster for me. When a bus pulls up and I see someone I know who has beaten the disease, I’m smiling and happy. The next minute, someone else will get off the bus wearing a t-shirt in memory of a loved one, and I have tears in my eyes. I always wear sunglasses.
Cancer continues to affect too many people, and I’d love to see the tide turn on the disease. I lost my father to cancer when he was in his 70s, and I recently lost my brother, who was only 52. But, every year the WALK reminds me that for some people the tide has turned. They’ve been able to get cancer-free, not just for a month or a year but in some cases for 20 years. They’ve beaten it and they’re still beating it. Those success stories are just one more reason to keep on going.
Francie Croft, R. R. T.
Supervisor, NSMC Respiratory Care Department; Team Captain, The Lung Rangers
Our department has been walking as a team since the very first Cancer WALK, and we’ve been growing every year. We started out with a different team name, but after a couple of years we held a contest among ourselves to come up with a new name and that’s how we got The Lung Rangers.
Since our staff works every other weekend, not every team member can participate in the actual WALK. So, we have two fundraisers during the year that allow everyone to be involved as much as they can. We do a hospital-wide raffle in June and a bake sale and apple pie sale just before Thanksgiving. Everyone in the hospital always looks forward to them because they’ve been a tradition for so long.
Through the years, we’ve seen many of our patients either walking or sitting on the sidelines waving to the crowd. We’ve also seen employees who have retired from the hospital but who still go down to the Willows to cheer people on. I think everyone likes to be a part of the WALK because they know that it helps NSMC provide the best care right in our backyard.
Two years ago, one of our respiratory therapists, Glenda Brown, died from cancer. The WALK that year was very special to us because we did everything in her name. Nearly every year, some member of our team has a family member or loved one who is being treated for cancer. We are always walking for someone.
My own family has been deeply affected by cancer. Since 1993, I’ve lost my mother and two sisters to the disease. That experience is what drives me, and that’s what’s in my heart when I work on the WALK each year. If I can help make life a little easier for patients and their families, it’s well worth putting in the time and effort to help raise funds for the Cancer Center.
WALK Administrator, 1991-2005
When we started the Cancer WALK in 1991, our goal was to bring help and hope to patients and their families through the building of the Cancer Center. We wanted the WALK to be something that would grow and sustain itself over time.
The WALK has always been about the patients. That was true during the 15 years I was involved in planning the WALK, and it’s the same spirit that drives the WALK today.
I loved working on the WALK because I knew that we were helping people and making a difference in their lives. We used to get so excited when patients would come into our office before the WALK to help out, to drop off money or to visit. It always gave us a lift and reminded us what we were working toward. At one point, we had almost 20 volunteers—and some of them are still helping out today.
The WALK is such a popular event because it brings the community together in a common cause. There isn’t a family on the North Shore that doesn’t have a link to cancer, whether it’s through a loved one, a friend, or a neighbor. That’s why so many people want to do whatever they can to help.
I’m retired now, but I remember the WALK as a time to step back and take stock. Each year, when I saw the thousands of people gathered at the Willows, I was struck by the fact that they all were there for a reason—to rally for each other and for the patients. Each person, no matter how sick they were or how deeply cancer had affected their lives, always had a smile on their face.
Brian Cranney
Owner, Cranney Companies and Cranney Home Services; Chair, WALK Logistics Committee
The first year of the Cancer WALK, I participated as a walker. I was in the Salem Rotary, and a group of Rotarians had formed a team. I was overwhelmed by the sight of thousands of people walking for a cause so close to their hearts. I decided that from then on I needed to get more involved.
For the last 18 years, I’ve been organizing the logistics of the WALK. Our team gets down to the Willows around 5:30 a.m. on WALK day and we’re there until about noon. We have a great group of volunteers—from bus drivers to parking attendants to people at the registration desk. Many of us have worked on this event together for years, so we’ve got it down to a science.
I always call the Cancer WALK “The People’s Walk.” From the beginning, North Shore Medical Center found a way to get the average person involved and to show them how the money raised directly benefits the entire community—from the building of the first Cancer Center in Peabody to the new facility in Danvers. People know that if they should ever need cancer care, we have the best right here at home.
The day of the WALK is an emotional rollercoaster for me. When a bus pulls up and I see someone I know who has beaten the disease, I’m smiling and happy. The next minute, someone else will get off the bus wearing a t-shirt in memory of a loved one, and I have tears in my eyes. I always wear sunglasses.
Cancer continues to affect too many people, and I’d love to see the tide turn on the disease. I lost my father to cancer when he was in his 70s, and I recently lost my brother, who was only 52. But, every year the WALK reminds me that for some people the tide has turned. They’ve been able to get cancer-free, not just for a month or a year but in some cases for 20 years. They’ve beaten it and they’re still beating it. Those success stories are just one more reason to keep on going.
Francie Croft, R. R. T.
Supervisor, NSMC Respiratory Care Department; Team Captain, The Lung Rangers
Our department has been walking as a team since the very first Cancer WALK, and we’ve been growing every year. We started out with a different team name, but after a couple of years we held a contest among ourselves to come up with a new name and that’s how we got The Lung Rangers.
Since our staff works every other weekend, not every team member can participate in the actual WALK. So, we have two fundraisers during the year that allow everyone to be involved as much as they can. We do a hospital-wide raffle in June and a bake sale and apple pie sale just before Thanksgiving. Everyone in the hospital always looks forward to them because they’ve been a tradition for so long.
Through the years, we’ve seen many of our patients either walking or sitting on the sidelines waving to the crowd. We’ve also seen employees who have retired from the hospital but who still go down to the Willows to cheer people on. I think everyone likes to be a part of the WALK because they know that it helps NSMC provide the best care right in our backyard.
Two years ago, one of our respiratory therapists, Glenda Brown, died from cancer. The WALK that year was very special to us because we did everything in her name. Nearly every year, some member of our team has a family member or loved one who is being treated for cancer. We are always walking for someone.
My own family has been deeply affected by cancer. Since 1993, I’ve lost my mother and two sisters to the disease. That experience is what drives me, and that’s what’s in my heart when I work on the WALK each year. If I can help make life a little easier for patients and their families, it’s well worth putting in the time and effort to help raise funds for the Cancer Center.
Jim Crosby
Owner, Crosby’s Marketplace; Chair; NSMC WALK Refreshments
Like most people, I’ve had experience with cancer. When I was a young man, I lost a 12-year-old cousin to brain cancer. He was buried in his Boy Scout uniform, and I’ve never forgotten that image. Through the years, cancer has affected my and my wife’s families as well as our employees and their families.
The WALK is a true team effort for our company. We kick into high gear about 90 days before the event—everything from mailing letters with the NSMC Development staff to reserving refrigerator trailers for the thousands of bottles of water, soda, and juice we’ll need. The food industry is quite generous, and we enjoy working with our suppliers to secure drinks and refreshments for the walkers. Bananas are a particularly popular item—we go through as many as 3,000 that day!
As I look back on 20 years of involvement in the WALK, I’m proud to have been part of something that has done real good in peoples’ lives. My family is fortunate to have had the Resource Center at the new Cancer Center named in our honor, and it means a lot that our work on the WALK has helped the NSMC Cancer Center obtain state-of-the art equipment they need to give patients the best possible care.
No matter how busy I am on the day of the event, I always try to walk a bit of the route. As I top the hill on Lafayette Street, I’m always struck by the sea of people ahead. It’s a powerful reminder of the good in humanity.
When I’m at the Willows this year, I’ll reflect on the people I’ve known who have been affected by cancer. My hope is that we’ll make faster, even greater advances in the next 20 years so that we can finally beat this disease.
Lisa Carbone
Team Coordinator, Eastern Bank; Former Chairperson and Co-Chairperson of the North Shore Cancer WALK; Current Member, North Shore Cancer WALK Anniversary Committee
I’ve been participating in the Cancer WALK since it began. I was at the Loring Avenue branch of Eastern Bank and we had a team. At the time, the WALK was just a fun community thing for me to do as a young branch manager. It was a great way to meet people in the community and to get involved.
As the years went on, I became more aware of the great work the Cancer Center does and I embraced the mission of the WALK and the value it brings. It’s important to me that the funds we raise serve a tangible purpose. I like the fact that the money stays local and you can see the benefits right here in the community. If you go to the Cancer Center, you can see equipment that has been purchased with Cancer WALK dollars and talk to people who are in programs that have been made possible by funds raised through the WALK.
For the past 16 years, I’ve been coordinating all of Eastern Bank’s efforts for the WALK. Typically, we have between 125 and 150 walkers. The WALK is such an integral part of what we embrace as an institution—I can’t imagine the bank not being involved.
NSMC is and always has been a focal point for the North Shore community. The affiliation with Partners has made NSMC an even stronger organization. The access, expertise, and programs that now are delivered here have enormous benefit to everyone who lives on the North Shore. I feel very fortunate that I don’t have to go to Boston for everything—we’ve got great care right here.
I’m proud to have been affiliated with the WALK all these years. When I read the tribute boards at the Willows, I’m always struck by the expressions of love and the outpouring of support. It reminds me just how deeply cancer continues to affect peoples’ lives. Twenty years is a long time for any event to still be meaningful and viable in a community, so I think what we’ve accomplished with the Cancer WALK is pretty amazing.
Kevin Bottomley
President and CEO, Danversbank, Presenting Sponsor of the North Shore Cancer WALK
Kevin Noyes
1st Vice President, Danversbank; Director, Danversbank Charitable Foundation; Current Member, North Shore Cancer WALK Anniversary Committee
Bottomley: We’ve had a long association with North Shore Medical Center at the board level and from a charitable giving level. We’ve also had a Cancer WALK team for many years. When the opportunity arose for us to do more by supporting the WALK as the presenting sponsor, it was a natural fit.
Noyes: Being an asset to the community is a core value that everyone at Danversbank lives by, and the WALK is a true community event. Of all the charitable activities we participate in throughout the year, the WALK is always one of our biggest. Our Team Danversbank co-captains, Wendy Kelley and Tara Boucher, come around to each of us to seek donations, and our team draws about 30 employees each year, plus friends and family.
Bottomley: The WALK is always a moving experience. The magnitude of support and the number of people who take part, rain or shine, speak to the impact that cancer has on everyone’s lives and the world-class care that North Shore Medical Center provides. The hospital has been a stalwart of this community for decades. I can’t imagine the North Shore without it.
Noyes: This year’s Cancer WALK will have special meaning for me. My extended family has formed a team and we’ll be walking together. I recently lost an aunt to cancer, and my father is in hospice care. Throughout his battle, my father has had nothing but gratitude for the care he received at the Cancer Center. I can’t say enough about the skill and kindness with which Dr. McIntyre and his team treated my dad and how much they have helped us through this very difficult time.
Bottomley: When I’m at the Willows to help kick off the Cancer WALK this year, I’ll be thinking of family members, friends, and other close associates who have been touched by this disease. I’ll be missing those who won’t be with us to mark this milestone, but I’ll also be grateful for the many survivors who will.
Joel Schwartz, MD
FACP Director, Oncology Services, Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center
James McIntyre, MD
Chair, Radiation Oncology, Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center
Dr. Schwartz: I’ve participated in every Cancer WALK since it began. When we headed out on that first WALK in June 1991, there were people sitting in beach chairs along the side of the road in Salem asking, “What is this parade?” When we told them it was a walk to support a cancer program at Salem Hospital, many of them ran upstairs and brought down $5, $10, or $20 to contribute.
Dr. McIntyre: My first Cancer WALK was in 2002, before I had officially joined the hospital. I was interviewing for the chief position, and I came to see what the WALK was all about. It was a staggering experience. About a quarter of the way through, I felt that this event and this place were something special and I wanted to be a part of it.
Dr. Schwartz: From the start, people embraced the WALK. They felt personally invested in contributing to cancer care here in the community. The first Cancer Center in Peabody was built brick-by-brick with money raised through the WALK, and WALK funds supported several renovations to the center during the 15 years we were there. For the past three years, the money raised through the WALK went to support our new, state-of-the-art Cancer Center in Danvers. And this year, the WALK will fund the renovation of the inpatient cancer unit on the 9th floor of the Davenport Building in Salem and programs and services at the new Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center.
Dr. McIntyre: Cancer WALK dollars made it possible for us to be one of the first centers to buy a CT simulator to help improve the accuracy of radiation. Over the years, WALK funds also have been used to buy several state-of-the-art linear accelerators. More recently, the WALK made it possible for us to purchase new equipment for stereotactic body radiation, which is a highly focused form of therapy.
Dr. Schwartz: Our ability to build our program, to buy state-of-the-art equipment that attracted top talent, to become the kind of place that Mass General Hospital wanted to partner with—none of that would have been possible if it had not been for the money raised by the Cancer WALK. Without the WALK, we would not be treating patients in our new Cancer Center today.
Dr. McIntyre: Every year, patients tell us that they want to be able to participate in the WALK. Sometimes that means they’re simply able to hand out water at the end of the route, but it’s important for them just to be there. Day to day, it’s easy to get busy and forget to take a step back and look at the big picture of what we’re doing here at the Cancer Center. But then I go to the WALK and I’m reminded once again. I feel fortunate and privileged to be a part of it.
Dr. Schwartz: We always join NSMC CEO Bob Norton at the Willows to say a few words to kick off the WALK. When we come down from the podium, we are greeted by former patients who now are doing the WALK as cancer survivors. As a physician, that’s a remarkable feeling. We both look forward to seeing new faces this year.
Chair, Radiation Oncology, Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center
Dr. Schwartz: I’ve participated in every Cancer WALK since it began. When we headed out on that first WALK in June 1991, there were people sitting in beach chairs along the side of the road in Salem asking, “What is this parade?” When we told them it was a walk to support a cancer program at Salem Hospital, many of them ran upstairs and brought down $5, $10, or $20 to contribute.
Dr. McIntyre: My first Cancer WALK was in 2002, before I had officially joined the hospital. I was interviewing for the chief position, and I came to see what the WALK was all about. It was a staggering experience. About a quarter of the way through, I felt that this event and this place were something special and I wanted to be a part of it.
Dr. Schwartz: From the start, people embraced the WALK. They felt personally invested in contributing to cancer care here in the community. The first Cancer Center in Peabody was built brick-by-brick with money raised through the WALK, and WALK funds supported several renovations to the center during the 15 years we were there. For the past three years, the money raised through the WALK went to support our new, state-of-the-art Cancer Center in Danvers. And this year, the WALK will fund the renovation of the inpatient cancer unit on the 9th floor of the Davenport Building in Salem and programs and services at the new Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center.
Dr. McIntyre: Cancer WALK dollars made it possible for us to be one of the first centers to buy a CT simulator to help improve the accuracy of radiation. Over the years, WALK funds also have been used to buy several state-of-the-art linear accelerators. More recently, the WALK made it possible for us to purchase new equipment for stereotactic body radiation, which is a highly focused form of therapy.
Dr. Schwartz: Our ability to build our program, to buy state-of-the-art equipment that attracted top talent, to become the kind of place that Mass General Hospital wanted to partner with—none of that would have been possible if it had not been for the money raised by the Cancer WALK. Without the WALK, we would not be treating patients in our new Cancer Center today.
Dr. McIntyre: Every year, patients tell us that they want to be able to participate in the WALK. Sometimes that means they’re simply able to hand out water at the end of the route, but it’s important for them just to be there. Day to day, it’s easy to get busy and forget to take a step back and look at the big picture of what we’re doing here at the Cancer Center. But then I go to the WALK and I’m reminded once again. I feel fortunate and privileged to be a part of it.
Dr. Schwartz: We always join NSMC CEO Bob Norton at the Willows to say a few words to kick off the WALK. When we come down from the podium, we are greeted by former patients who now are doing the WALK as cancer survivors. As a physician, that’s a remarkable feeling. We both look forward to seeing new faces this year.
Josh Chmara
Team Co-Captain, Team Z Marblehead
Emmy York
Co-Captain, Team Z Marblehead
We started Team Z Marblehead last year in honor of Marblehead High School Principal John Ziergiebel, who was battling cancer at the time. I was president of the Student Council and helped to organize 200 students, parents, and teachers to walk in the NSMC Cancer WALK.
The MHS student government designed t-shirts for the WALK. Each of the student classes generously donated money to buy the t-shirts, and we put all of the proceeds toward the WALK. We also encouraged all MHS extra-curricular groups, including clubs and athletic teams, to support the WALK. It was great to see everyone come together in support of a common cause.
In addition to our “school family,” many of our own families have been touched by cancer. Our goal in participating in the Cancer WALK was to bring hope to people who are dealing with cancer and to raise money to help actively fight the disease.
Four months after the Cancer WALK, Mr. Z lost his battle with cancer. His death was a terrible loss for everyone at MHS. We all loved Mr. Z. Every morning, no matter what the weather was, he would stand in front of the school and welcome all of the students as we came in. He was always at sporting events and concerts. He was a really special person.
Our team will be out at the Willows again this year. We’ll be thinking of Mr. Z and how he touched so many peoples’ lives. He was always supportive of his students, and I know he would be proud of us for getting out there to help make a difference.
Kathie Mitchell
Team Captain, Team Kathie Mitchell; Former North Shore Cancer WALK Spokesperson; Cancer Survivor
I was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in 2001. At the time, I was given a 30 percent chance of survival. My cancer has abated and returned several times since then, but thanks to NSMC—especially the skill and innovation of my oncologist, Dr. Ronald Weinger—I’m still here nearly nine years later.
Two years after my diagnosis, a friend of mine came to me with idea of participating in the Cancer WALK. We put together our first team in 2004 and had 50 or 60 people. The team has mushroomed from there. We keep growing every year, and we’ve raised more than $120,000 since we began.
My team is amazing. It’s comprised of family, friends and co-workers—many of whom have been with me since the beginning. Our slogan is “Walking to Make a Difference.” We have kids, and we have dogs. We have people who travel from as far as Ohio, and people who come down from New Hampshire and up from Rhode Island. We even have several members from the Worcester area. One year we celebrated the return of one of our walkers who had just come back from a tour in Iraq. It was quite an emotional experience.
The support we’ve received through the years has been incredible, even during tough economic times. For the last four years, the Salem Waterfront Hotel has paid for our team t-shirts. We always stop in during the WALK to thank them. They are a great example of how people come together for this event.
I owe my life to the care I’ve received at NSMC, and that’s why the WALK means so much to me. I know firsthand that every patient at NSMC is treated as a person first. The good that has come out of the Cancer Center far exceeds the sadness, and that alone is reason enough for me to continue giving the WALK everything I have.
We started Team Z Marblehead last year in honor of Marblehead High School Principal John Ziergiebel, who was battling cancer at the time. I was president of the Student Council and helped to organize 200 students, parents, and teachers to walk in the NSMC Cancer WALK.
The MHS student government designed t-shirts for the WALK. Each of the student classes generously donated money to buy the t-shirts, and we put all of the proceeds toward the WALK. We also encouraged all MHS extra-curricular groups, including clubs and athletic teams, to support the WALK. It was great to see everyone come together in support of a common cause.
In addition to our “school family,” many of our own families have been touched by cancer. Our goal in participating in the Cancer WALK was to bring hope to people who are dealing with cancer and to raise money to help actively fight the disease.
Four months after the Cancer WALK, Mr. Z lost his battle with cancer. His death was a terrible loss for everyone at MHS. We all loved Mr. Z. Every morning, no matter what the weather was, he would stand in front of the school and welcome all of the students as we came in. He was always at sporting events and concerts. He was a really special person.
Our team will be out at the Willows again this year. We’ll be thinking of Mr. Z and how he touched so many peoples’ lives. He was always supportive of his students, and I know he would be proud of us for getting out there to help make a difference.
Kathie Mitchell
Team Captain, Team Kathie Mitchell; Former North Shore Cancer WALK Spokesperson; Cancer Survivor
I was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in 2001. At the time, I was given a 30 percent chance of survival. My cancer has abated and returned several times since then, but thanks to NSMC—especially the skill and innovation of my oncologist, Dr. Ronald Weinger—I’m still here nearly nine years later.
Two years after my diagnosis, a friend of mine came to me with idea of participating in the Cancer WALK. We put together our first team in 2004 and had 50 or 60 people. The team has mushroomed from there. We keep growing every year, and we’ve raised more than $120,000 since we began.
My team is amazing. It’s comprised of family, friends and co-workers—many of whom have been with me since the beginning. Our slogan is “Walking to Make a Difference.” We have kids, and we have dogs. We have people who travel from as far as Ohio, and people who come down from New Hampshire and up from Rhode Island. We even have several members from the Worcester area. One year we celebrated the return of one of our walkers who had just come back from a tour in Iraq. It was quite an emotional experience.
The support we’ve received through the years has been incredible, even during tough economic times. For the last four years, the Salem Waterfront Hotel has paid for our team t-shirts. We always stop in during the WALK to thank them. They are a great example of how people come together for this event.
I owe my life to the care I’ve received at NSMC, and that’s why the WALK means so much to me. I know firsthand that every patient at NSMC is treated as a person first. The good that has come out of the Cancer Center far exceeds the sadness, and that alone is reason enough for me to continue giving the WALK everything I have.
Tom Gould
Owner, Treadwell’s Ice Cream; Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center Volunteer
My connection to the NSMC Cancer WALK began in the most unlikely of ways.
In 1999, after more than 22 years as a manager at General Electric in Lynn, I decided to retire and buy Treadwell’s Ice Cream in Peabody. Three years later, I was asked to donate ice cream at an NSMC Cancer Center Survivor Celebration, and I happily obliged. I enjoyed myself so much at the event that I asked Dr. Joel Schwartz if I could come to the Cancer Center more often and bring ice cream for the patients and staff. He didn’t need much convincing.
The following year I visited a few times. In less than a year, I was coming every month. The rest is history.
My visits to the Cancer Center are one of the highlights of my month. It makes me feel good to bring a bit of cheer to the patients. The staff seem to enjoy the treats too!
Over the years, I’ve gotten to know some of the patients so well that they send me Christmas cards and come to visit me in the store after they finish their treatments. Making those connections means a lot to me. It’s a way for me to give thanks for all of the good things that I have in my life and to bring a little happiness into the lives of people who are going through a challenging time in theirs.
Betty Maloney, R.N.
Practice Nurse, Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center
I’ve been walking in the NSMC Cancer WALK since 1994, just before the first Cancer Center in Peabody opened. At that time, I was working with oncology patients at Salem Hospital as an infusion nurse, and I felt it was important to support my patients and their families as they fought the disease.
Since I began walking, I have seen firsthand the improvements and advances the WALK funds have provided for the Cancer Center. When the first Cancer Center opened in 1994, we had radiation oncology and infusion nurses. Now, we have radiation oncology nurses, infusion nurses, nurse practitioners, and practice nurses to care for the 300+ patients who are treated at the new Cancer Center in Danvers each day.
WALK proceeds have helped to fund three linear accelerators to deliver radiation treatments, provide transportation for patients who have no rides, and support ancillary services such as Reiki, acupuncture, massage, and yoga for patients who could not otherwise afford them.
As a practice nurse, I work closely with our oncologists and spend most of my time on patient education and telephone triage. I have seen NSMC’s cancer patient population grow one hundred-fold because of early detection and treatment. I am particularly gratified to see that so many therapies now are available, so patients can choose a course of therapy that best suits their disease and their lifestyle. I don’t believe these advances would have been possible without the Cancer WALK, and that’s why I’ll be proud to lace up my sneakers once again and join thousands of others at the Willows in June.
Beth Lee Baldini
Team Captain, Living Proof; Former Chairperson, North Shore Cancer WALK; Cancer Survivor
My first Cancer WALK was in 1993. I had recently finished chemotherapy at NSMC Salem Hospital for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Eight years after first participating, I was asked to be the Chairperson of the WALK. That same year, the Salem Trolley began running in downtown Salem. Seeing the trolley sparked an idea. I decided to create a survivor team to show cancer patients past and present that there were brighter days ahead. We called ourselves “Living Proof,” and we’re still walking together today. We also started the “Survivors’ Trolley” to allow people who aren’t well enough to walk the route to ride alongside the walkers. Since 2001, we have had hundreds of survivors enjoy the ride.
In addition to walking with my team, I have volunteered at the Cancer Center since 1994. The job fits me like a glove. I talk to newly diagnosed patients, serve snacks to patients during treatments, and encourage everyone to focus on recovery and to remain positive about the future. I know what it feels like to be sick and afraid, and I am grateful to be healthy again and to be able to share hope with others.
When I was treated for cancer, the original Cancer Center in Peabody hadn’t yet opened. I’m proud to have contributed through the WALK not only to that first Center but also to the new, state-of-the-art Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers. The new facility truly is a beautiful, healing environment and we are so fortunate to have it on the North Shore.
Practice Nurse, Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center
I’ve been walking in the NSMC Cancer WALK since 1994, just before the first Cancer Center in Peabody opened. At that time, I was working with oncology patients at Salem Hospital as an infusion nurse, and I felt it was important to support my patients and their families as they fought the disease.
Since I began walking, I have seen firsthand the improvements and advances the WALK funds have provided for the Cancer Center. When the first Cancer Center opened in 1994, we had radiation oncology and infusion nurses. Now, we have radiation oncology nurses, infusion nurses, nurse practitioners, and practice nurses to care for the 300+ patients who are treated at the new Cancer Center in Danvers each day.
WALK proceeds have helped to fund three linear accelerators to deliver radiation treatments, provide transportation for patients who have no rides, and support ancillary services such as Reiki, acupuncture, massage, and yoga for patients who could not otherwise afford them.
As a practice nurse, I work closely with our oncologists and spend most of my time on patient education and telephone triage. I have seen NSMC’s cancer patient population grow one hundred-fold because of early detection and treatment. I am particularly gratified to see that so many therapies now are available, so patients can choose a course of therapy that best suits their disease and their lifestyle. I don’t believe these advances would have been possible without the Cancer WALK, and that’s why I’ll be proud to lace up my sneakers once again and join thousands of others at the Willows in June.
Beth Lee Baldini
Team Captain, Living Proof; Former Chairperson, North Shore Cancer WALK; Cancer Survivor
My first Cancer WALK was in 1993. I had recently finished chemotherapy at NSMC Salem Hospital for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Eight years after first participating, I was asked to be the Chairperson of the WALK. That same year, the Salem Trolley began running in downtown Salem. Seeing the trolley sparked an idea. I decided to create a survivor team to show cancer patients past and present that there were brighter days ahead. We called ourselves “Living Proof,” and we’re still walking together today. We also started the “Survivors’ Trolley” to allow people who aren’t well enough to walk the route to ride alongside the walkers. Since 2001, we have had hundreds of survivors enjoy the ride.
In addition to walking with my team, I have volunteered at the Cancer Center since 1994. The job fits me like a glove. I talk to newly diagnosed patients, serve snacks to patients during treatments, and encourage everyone to focus on recovery and to remain positive about the future. I know what it feels like to be sick and afraid, and I am grateful to be healthy again and to be able to share hope with others.
When I was treated for cancer, the original Cancer Center in Peabody hadn’t yet opened. I’m proud to have contributed through the WALK not only to that first Center but also to the new, state-of-the-art Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers. The new facility truly is a beautiful, healing environment and we are so fortunate to have it on the North Shore.
Kelley Cuffe Howells
Charter Walker, Cuffe’s Crusaders
I was a young single girl just starting out in my career when my family first participated in the NSMC Cancer WALK in 1991. I’ve walked with my family ever since. Now I’m married, and my husband and my children join me to do the WALK each year.
The Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home started the WALK tradition as a way to give back to our community. My father, Walter Cuffe, spearheaded our fundraising and social activities along with Paul Bergeron and Tom Newhall, the current manager of Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home. They have been the driving force behind 20 years of “Cuffe’s Crusaders.”
Back in 1991 we started the day at the Funeral Home with donuts, coffee, and t-shirts, and then we went as a group to the Willows. Our team grew as more families chose to honor their loved ones who were fighting cancer or had been lost to cancer by joining us to do the WALK. Our team got so big that we decided to meet in the Willows, and I created a quilt made from our past years’ team t-shirts to designate our spot.
When we began walking we just wanted to help others—we never imagined that we would be walking for our own family. But in 2008, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He was treated immediately, and I am happy to say that he is now a healthy and active grandfather to my kids. He also walks every year—rain or shine.
The WALK has become an annual tradition for our family, our business, and our team. I have sewed 20 of our t-shirts onto the quilt, to fill the front and back. It looks like we will need an additional quilt next year. I look forward to making it.
Patrick DeIulis
Vice President, DeIulis Brothers Construction Company; Member, NSMC Development Committee
My first Cancer WALK was in 1993, the inaugural year of the DeIulis Brothers Team. My wife, Susan, was a radiation oncology technician and had previously walked with her co-workers at Salem Hospital. I was impressed by the outpouring of community support and watched it grow year after year.
Our family and company continued to participate annually in the WALK, and in 1997 DeIulis Brothers signed on as a corporate sponsor. We have been active in many North Shore organizations for years and have been longtime supporters of North Shore Medical Center. The WALK was a perfect fit for us. Family and community are things we hold dear, and we saw how deeply cancer affected families on the North Shore and what a difference the Cancer WALK made in their lives.
Three years later, it was our family who was touched by cancer when we lost Susan to melanoma. Suddenly the WALK took on new meaning for us. It became a family day of tribute.
The WALK is an emotional day for me and for my five sons, but we have come to look forward to our tradition. Members of our team arrive before dawn to claim our spot and set up a tent and grills to accommodate a barbecue for our extended family. Our team is more than 70 strong, and we have walkers of all ages—from senior citizens to kids in strollers.
Giving back is a value that has run deep in our family for generations. Everyone benefits from a healthy community, and as a father and an employer, it’s important to me that we have the high level of expertise and care that NSMC provides close to home. From my involvement in NSMC’s Development Committee, I have seen firsthand how committed the hospital’s leadership is to delivering the best possible care to the North Shore community. That’s why I’m proud to join my family, friends, and neighbors to help NSMC in the fight against cancer.
Joy and John Fisher, D.D.S.
Longtime NSMC Cancer WALK Volunteers
Joy: We have been manning the Cancer WALK registration tent since the beginning. In those days, we checked walkers in under the gazebo at the Willows because there were few enough that we could accommodate them under one tent. We also held special dinners to teach volunteers how to handle the checks, cash, piggy banks, and even donations of hair that would come in through the registration process. We would ring bells and horns for large donations that people walked in to the tent.
John: As a dentist, I have seen many of our patients battle cancer and the painful effects of the disease—including dental side effects. Participating in the WALK is another way we can show our support for their courage and determination in the face of this terrible disease.
Joy: With more than half of all walkers now registering online and more than half of the Cancer WALK donations raised online, times have changed since we set up our first table in 1991. For those who do bring in their funds on WALK day, we accept donations in sun, rain, howling wind, or anything else Mother Nature throws at us! We are just happy to do what we can to help in the fight against cancer.
John: When we are finished registering walkers, we relive our experiences of the day. We talk about our friends, family members, and patients who have struggled or are struggling with cancer. We talk about how fortunate we have been that we are able to share this experience with our family members who volunteer with us. We have always loved the good feelings we get from volunteering and we have no plans of stopping.
Mark Forziati
Current Spokesperson, North Shore Cancer WALK; Current Chairperson, North Shore Cancer WALK Anniversary Committee
This year’s Cancer WALK will be my 11th. It also will complete a decade-long promise I made to myself in 2000 to raise money for cancer research and treatment. That year marked the 10th anniversary of my father’s death from cancer, and I wanted to start the new millennium by doing what I could to help other patients and their families.
I did that first WALK on my own. As I made my way to the Willows that day, I saw a boy wearing a memorial T-shirt with a photo of him and his dad playing chess. That image really hit home for me. I realized that so many of the people there were just like me, dealing with the loss of a loved one. I knew it was going to be a tough day emotionally, but I also felt a sense of hope and purpose.
I brought my children the following year, and they’ve been walking ever since. Last year, my daughter, Marisa, joined with her classmates at Marblehead High School to organize their own WALK team, Team Z Marblehead. They walked in honor of their principal, John Ziergiebel, who was battling cancer and subsequently succumbed to it. The kids really inspired me. As the WALK chairperson, I’m committed to making this year’s event the most successful yet. One of the things we’ve done is to reach out to other schools throughout the North Shore to engage students and show them how they can make a difference.
It means a lot to me that the Cancer WALK will be held on June 20, 2010. In addition to being the 20th anniversary of the WALK, it will be the 20th anniversary—to the day—of my father’s death. I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory on Father’s Day.
When I’m at the Willows this year, I’ll be remembering my father and reflecting on how cancer impacts everyone. It can sneak up on you whether you’re young or old, and it’s a tough opponent. That’s why I want to do everything I can to ensure that everyone who faces cancer has a fighting chance.
Charter Walker, Cuffe’s Crusaders
I was a young single girl just starting out in my career when my family first participated in the NSMC Cancer WALK in 1991. I’ve walked with my family ever since. Now I’m married, and my husband and my children join me to do the WALK each year.
The Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home started the WALK tradition as a way to give back to our community. My father, Walter Cuffe, spearheaded our fundraising and social activities along with Paul Bergeron and Tom Newhall, the current manager of Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home. They have been the driving force behind 20 years of “Cuffe’s Crusaders.”
Back in 1991 we started the day at the Funeral Home with donuts, coffee, and t-shirts, and then we went as a group to the Willows. Our team grew as more families chose to honor their loved ones who were fighting cancer or had been lost to cancer by joining us to do the WALK. Our team got so big that we decided to meet in the Willows, and I created a quilt made from our past years’ team t-shirts to designate our spot.
When we began walking we just wanted to help others—we never imagined that we would be walking for our own family. But in 2008, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He was treated immediately, and I am happy to say that he is now a healthy and active grandfather to my kids. He also walks every year—rain or shine.
The WALK has become an annual tradition for our family, our business, and our team. I have sewed 20 of our t-shirts onto the quilt, to fill the front and back. It looks like we will need an additional quilt next year. I look forward to making it.
Patrick DeIulis
Vice President, DeIulis Brothers Construction Company; Member, NSMC Development Committee
My first Cancer WALK was in 1993, the inaugural year of the DeIulis Brothers Team. My wife, Susan, was a radiation oncology technician and had previously walked with her co-workers at Salem Hospital. I was impressed by the outpouring of community support and watched it grow year after year.
Our family and company continued to participate annually in the WALK, and in 1997 DeIulis Brothers signed on as a corporate sponsor. We have been active in many North Shore organizations for years and have been longtime supporters of North Shore Medical Center. The WALK was a perfect fit for us. Family and community are things we hold dear, and we saw how deeply cancer affected families on the North Shore and what a difference the Cancer WALK made in their lives.
Three years later, it was our family who was touched by cancer when we lost Susan to melanoma. Suddenly the WALK took on new meaning for us. It became a family day of tribute.
The WALK is an emotional day for me and for my five sons, but we have come to look forward to our tradition. Members of our team arrive before dawn to claim our spot and set up a tent and grills to accommodate a barbecue for our extended family. Our team is more than 70 strong, and we have walkers of all ages—from senior citizens to kids in strollers.
Giving back is a value that has run deep in our family for generations. Everyone benefits from a healthy community, and as a father and an employer, it’s important to me that we have the high level of expertise and care that NSMC provides close to home. From my involvement in NSMC’s Development Committee, I have seen firsthand how committed the hospital’s leadership is to delivering the best possible care to the North Shore community. That’s why I’m proud to join my family, friends, and neighbors to help NSMC in the fight against cancer.
Joy and John Fisher, D.D.S.
Longtime NSMC Cancer WALK Volunteers
Joy: We have been manning the Cancer WALK registration tent since the beginning. In those days, we checked walkers in under the gazebo at the Willows because there were few enough that we could accommodate them under one tent. We also held special dinners to teach volunteers how to handle the checks, cash, piggy banks, and even donations of hair that would come in through the registration process. We would ring bells and horns for large donations that people walked in to the tent.
John: As a dentist, I have seen many of our patients battle cancer and the painful effects of the disease—including dental side effects. Participating in the WALK is another way we can show our support for their courage and determination in the face of this terrible disease.
Joy: With more than half of all walkers now registering online and more than half of the Cancer WALK donations raised online, times have changed since we set up our first table in 1991. For those who do bring in their funds on WALK day, we accept donations in sun, rain, howling wind, or anything else Mother Nature throws at us! We are just happy to do what we can to help in the fight against cancer.
John: When we are finished registering walkers, we relive our experiences of the day. We talk about our friends, family members, and patients who have struggled or are struggling with cancer. We talk about how fortunate we have been that we are able to share this experience with our family members who volunteer with us. We have always loved the good feelings we get from volunteering and we have no plans of stopping.
Mark Forziati
Current Spokesperson, North Shore Cancer WALK; Current Chairperson, North Shore Cancer WALK Anniversary Committee
This year’s Cancer WALK will be my 11th. It also will complete a decade-long promise I made to myself in 2000 to raise money for cancer research and treatment. That year marked the 10th anniversary of my father’s death from cancer, and I wanted to start the new millennium by doing what I could to help other patients and their families.
I did that first WALK on my own. As I made my way to the Willows that day, I saw a boy wearing a memorial T-shirt with a photo of him and his dad playing chess. That image really hit home for me. I realized that so many of the people there were just like me, dealing with the loss of a loved one. I knew it was going to be a tough day emotionally, but I also felt a sense of hope and purpose.
I brought my children the following year, and they’ve been walking ever since. Last year, my daughter, Marisa, joined with her classmates at Marblehead High School to organize their own WALK team, Team Z Marblehead. They walked in honor of their principal, John Ziergiebel, who was battling cancer and subsequently succumbed to it. The kids really inspired me. As the WALK chairperson, I’m committed to making this year’s event the most successful yet. One of the things we’ve done is to reach out to other schools throughout the North Shore to engage students and show them how they can make a difference.
It means a lot to me that the Cancer WALK will be held on June 20, 2010. In addition to being the 20th anniversary of the WALK, it will be the 20th anniversary—to the day—of my father’s death. I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory on Father’s Day.
When I’m at the Willows this year, I’ll be remembering my father and reflecting on how cancer impacts everyone. It can sneak up on you whether you’re young or old, and it’s a tough opponent. That’s why I want to do everything I can to ensure that everyone who faces cancer has a fighting chance.
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