The 13th Annual Joshua's Run: Family Fun to Support Pediatric Oncology Research

September 02, 2009

The 13th Annual Joshua Run, a 5-mile run on the beautiful seaside cliffs of Scituate, will take place on Saturday, October 24. With something for runners and walkers of all ages, the family fun day is a unique event that honors many who have battled cancer. In addition to the 5 Mile Run which starts at 10:00 a.m., there is a 2 mile Fun Run/Walk at 9:00 a.m. and a 100 yard Kids Fun Run. The event includes entertainment for the kids and complimentary food and beverage at a post-race party. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Andrea Gaziano Memorial Fund to benefit pediatric oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Josh Blacker from Scituate was only ten months old when he was diagnosed with a form of Wilms' tumor — a cancer affecting the kidney's, which occurs mostly in children under the age of five. Joshua was fortunate in that after chemotherapy and surgery, his cancer was eventually cured. In 1996 Joshua's Run was born. This event has been a way to give back, to attempt to aid the battle against childhood cancer.

In 2006, Andrea Gaziano, one of Joshua Run's most avid supporters, lost her heroic six-year battle with cancer at the age of 14. Her battle against cancer was incredibly courageous and hard-fought. She received treatment at both The Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and at Boston's Children's Hospital. The Andrea Gaziano Memorial Fund was established in her honor.

During the course of the race, there are sponsored hills that are named for Hill Heroes, all patients from the community who are or have been treated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Hill Heroes are the inspiration for race participants to try their hardest against the challenge of the hills. Race participants may also pay tribute to their own personal hero by purchasing a patch on the Wall of Wings. Patches are decorated to honor a loved one who has battled cancer. The patches adorn a butterfly that graces the race every year.

Since 1996, Joshua's Run has raised over $330,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.