September 23, 2002
WB56 supports the Boston Marathon®
Jimmy Fund Walk
Live broadcast from finish line scheduled for Sept. 29
BOSTON — Tune in to WB56 from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, to watch your family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers walk in the 14th annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk. This marks the first time in the history of the event that there will be a live broadcast from the finish line of this popular fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund.
WB56 news anchors Frank Mallicoat and Christina Huey, together with meteorologist Mike Wankum, will be covering the cancer patients and their families, physicians and researchers, and all of the more than 8,000 others who participate in this event to raise funds for cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk is the only event, other than the Boston Marathon® itself, which is sanctioned by the Boston Athletic Association to use the official Boston Marathon route from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston.
"We are very excited to have WB56 broadcast this inspiring portion of the Walk," says Emily Quinn, director of the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk, which is presented by MFS Investment Management®. "The broadcast will allow people from all around New England to be a real part of the event and help us reach our goal of raising more than $4.5 million on Sept. 29."
In addition to showing the action and in-depth stories about just some of the walkers and the "Heroes" — those undergoing cancer treatments — they are walking for, WB56 will encourage viewers to join the walkers by contributing to the Jimmy Fund by phone at 800-632-3562 or at www.jimmyfund.org.
"It's our privilege to join forces with one of New England's most beloved charities and support the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk," says Vinnie Manzi, vice president/general manager, WB56. "As we did with our live Hot Dog Safari Broadcast to benefit the Joey Fund, WB56 continues to partner with local non-profit organizations that are dedicated to making a difference in the community."
Since 1948, hundreds of events, coupled with the generosity of millions of people, have helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives by furthering cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
WLVI-TV (WB56), Boston's WB affiliate and Tribune Broadcasting station, is home of "The Ten O'Clock News." Tribune Broadcasting owns and operates 24 major-market television stations, including national superstation WGN-TV, and reaches more than 80 percent of U.S. television households.
