Barry Davis's
Cross Country Bicycle Ride
From Seattle to Provincetown
For The Jimmy Fund
Cross Country Bicycle Ride
From Seattle to Provincetown
For The Jimmy Fund
The Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute
The Jimmy Fund
In 1948, a 12 year old boy from Maine was receiving treatment at the Children's Cancer Research Foundation in Boston for cancer by Dr. Sydney Farber. Dr. Farber learned that his "Jimmy" (the name he gave to all his patients) love to watch the Boston Braves on television. While his Jimmy couldn't watch the Braves while staying at the hospital, it was decided to hold a fund raiser to buy a TV set for Jimmy.
So, on May 22, 1948, a fund raiser was held and Jimmy spoke to a national radio audience on the Ralph Edward's radio show, "Truth or Consequences". Broadcast from Jimmy's hospital room, the appeal resulted in more than $200,000 in pledges the following year that ultimately supported Dr. Farber's cancer research. And thus, the Jimmy Fund was born. (link to actual broadcast)
That young man was Einor Gustafson of Maine. His family would travel hours to get their son to the Children's Cancer Research Foundation in Boston (later renamed to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute) for his regular treatments. Einor's cancer had gone into remission and as the years moved on, it was believed that Einor had died of his cancer because the rates of survival of pediatric cancer were so low in those days.
But in 1998, the 50th anniversary of the original radio broadcast, Einor was welcomed back to the Dana Farber and then started to promote the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber, including an appearance at the 1998 Opening Ceremonies for the Pan Mass Challenge.
Unfortunately, Einor passed away of a stroke on Jan 21, 2001, not the cancer that invaded his body as a child. "Einar's story—that he was cured at a time when so few were and that he led such a full life—is an inspiration to all of us," says Edward J. Benz Jr., M.D., president of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "His story is the story of our nation's war on cancer, and over the past five decades, tens of thousands of people have rallied against cancer in his name. We certainly pledge to continue that fight".
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
In 1947, the late Sidney Farber, MD, founded a Children's Cancer Research Foundation dedicated to providing children with cancer with a compassionate, state-of-the-art treatment and simultaneously developing the cancer preventatives, treatments, and cures of the future. The Institute officially expanded its programs to include patients of all ages in 1969, and in 1974 became known as the Sidney Farber Cancer Center in honor of its founder. The long-term support of the Charles A. Dana Foundation was acknowledged by incorporating the Institute under its present name in 1983.
In 1948, a 12 year old boy from Maine was receiving treatment at the Children's Cancer Research Foundation in Boston for cancer by Dr. Sydney Farber. Dr. Farber learned that his "Jimmy" (the name he gave to all his patients) love to watch the Boston Braves on television. While his Jimmy couldn't watch the Braves while staying at the hospital, it was decided to hold a fund raiser to buy a TV set for Jimmy.
So, on May 22, 1948, a fund raiser was held and Jimmy spoke to a national radio audience on the Ralph Edward's radio show, "Truth or Consequences". Broadcast from Jimmy's hospital room, the appeal resulted in more than $200,000 in pledges the following year that ultimately supported Dr. Farber's cancer research. And thus, the Jimmy Fund was born. (link to actual broadcast)
That young man was Einor Gustafson of Maine. His family would travel hours to get their son to the Children's Cancer Research Foundation in Boston (later renamed to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute) for his regular treatments. Einor's cancer had gone into remission and as the years moved on, it was believed that Einor had died of his cancer because the rates of survival of pediatric cancer were so low in those days.
But in 1998, the 50th anniversary of the original radio broadcast, Einor was welcomed back to the Dana Farber and then started to promote the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber, including an appearance at the 1998 Opening Ceremonies for the Pan Mass Challenge.
Unfortunately, Einor passed away of a stroke on Jan 21, 2001, not the cancer that invaded his body as a child. "Einar's story—that he was cured at a time when so few were and that he led such a full life—is an inspiration to all of us," says Edward J. Benz Jr., M.D., president of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "His story is the story of our nation's war on cancer, and over the past five decades, tens of thousands of people have rallied against cancer in his name. We certainly pledge to continue that fight".
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
In 1947, the late Sidney Farber, MD, founded a Children's Cancer Research Foundation dedicated to providing children with cancer with a compassionate, state-of-the-art treatment and simultaneously developing the cancer preventatives, treatments, and cures of the future. The Institute officially expanded its programs to include patients of all ages in 1969, and in 1974 became known as the Sidney Farber Cancer Center in honor of its founder. The long-term support of the Charles A. Dana Foundation was acknowledged by incorporating the Institute under its present name in 1983.
Employing thousands of researcher's and clinical medical professionals, the Dana Farber is internationally known for it's research and clinical excellence. It is also a teaching facility of the Harvard Medical school and a federally designated comprehensive Center for AIDS Research
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the generous support of numerous foundations and individuals, like the Pan Mass Challenge, who contribute to the Institute's individual research and clinic programs or to the Jimmy Fund, the principal charity of the Institute named for one of its child patients.Information for this section obtained from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Jimmy Fund websites
I'm standing with Einor "Jimmy" Gustafson
(L) at Pan Mass Challenge opening ceremonies
in 1998 shortly after he was "re-discovered"
by Jimmy Fund officials
