Canton’s Team Tara surpasses $1 million mark

Canton residents Tara Shuman and Amy Killeen received a Team $1 Million+ Lifetime Achievement award for their efforts over the past six years in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Shuman and Killeen were among a select group of awardees recognized at the Extra Mile Brunch on Sunday, March 1, for their fundraising and commitment in the Jimmy Fund Walk since their team was founded in 2014.

Money raised from the Jimmy Fund Walk supports adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2020, the Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted on the historic Boston Marathon course. Participants choose among four distance options: 5K walk (3.1 miles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), 10K walk (6.2 miles from Newton), half marathon walk (13.1 miles from Wellesley), or marathon walk (26.2 miles from Hopkinton). All routes finish at the Copley Square Finish Line. This year’s goal is to recruit 8,500 participants and raise $9 million for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

Participants who are not going to be in the area on October 4 can opt to register as Virtual Walkers. Whether participating for themselves, loved ones, neighbors, or co-workers, each walker shares a common purpose: to support breakthroughs that will benefit cancer patients around the world.

Killeen and Shuman formed Team Tara in 2014 after Shuman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She had to undergo a bilateral mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and biotherapy infusions. Shuman’s optimism has not only helped her through her treatment, but has inspired her and Killeen to help others. The two co-captains have led Team Tara to becoming the walk’s largest team in both size and fundraising dollars. They have now surpassed the $1 million milestone.

“As with all the work we do for the Jimmy Fund, the $1 million mark for our team comes with many different emotions,” Shuman writes. “Of course, we are very proud of everyone who has helped support cancer patients and their families. But we also know that behind so much of our work are broken hearts — parents, siblings, children, and friends who have seen the cancer beast and all that it can steal. Ultimately, we remain inspired and dedicated to the work we do to find a cure for those we have lost, for those who are fighting today, and for those who will fight in the future.”

“Tara’s and Amy’s enthusiasm, passion and energy exemplify the unique spirit of this event,” said Zack Blackburn, director of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. “Tara and Amy are prime examples of people who have dedicated their time to conquering cancer and supporting high-level research at Dana-Farber.”

“The success of our team is a result of the relationships and connections on which it is built,” Killeen writes. “Raising $1M was achievable because of our community of hardworking team members.”

To register for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255. Enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off registration.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 12 2020. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.