On Sunday, we walked in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk to support the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  This was the fourth year we walked and the first since my friend Axel lost his battle with cancer.  Given about six months to live when he was first diagnosed, Axel survived for more than 3 1/2 years, largely through the efforts of Dana Farber.

David "Axel" Foley is an old friend from the Navy who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer when he was 46.  He never smoked.  His father was diagnosed about a month later and passed away shortly after that.  Hence, our team was named Fighting for Foleys, in their honor.   Karol designed and produced our logo and sign, which has appeared in newspaper photos and on TV - mostly because  it stands out in the crowd at the start.  I have been the team captain each year.

 

This year, we had 19 walkers and raised more than $9000.  Here's out team.

Here we are walking down Boylston Street in Boston.  The Walk follows the same course as the Boston Marathon and finishes in the same spot.  Walkers can follow the whole 26.2 miles or join the route at 10 or 3 miles.  We do 3 miles to accommodate the sick, lame, lazy and children among us.  I won't say where I fit in.

Here we are with Jennifer, Axel's wife...

and his girls, Taylor, age 11, and Rose, who just turned 7.

Here I am with Axel when we went to dinner in the North End before the first walk. That's Paul Revere and the Old North Church in the background.  (BTW, I just found out there is also an Old South Church but it is not as famous.)

You can learn more about the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber - and donate to our team - at the link below.

http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1086390&lis=1&kntae1086390=B4A875EB8E984183997BC77FF3D45967&team=6111880