RI cancer patient walking to raise money, support others
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk will be held on Sunday to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the event has a Rhode Island connection.
Teams who take part in the walk are matched with a "hero," or a Dana Farber patient. Pictures of the heroes are placed at all the mile markers to help motivate people as they walk.
Linda Dziobek of South Kingstown has been receiving personalized care for her ovarian cancer at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for 10 years.
Linda Dziobek stands at her mile marker at the 2023 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. (Courtesy: Linda Dziobek)
Dziobek is the hero for the team "Ovarian Cancer Brigade." Many of her teammates have lost loved ones to the disease.
This year's walk is Dziobek's fourth time being a hero. Last year, she stood by her mile marker sign to cheer people on.
"People came up and hugged me," Dziobek recalled. "They touched the photo. You know, you can't help get pulled into that .... sense of community, the joy and the emotion."
The walk offers various distances for participants. This year, Dziobek will be walking five kilometers while her husband walks the full marathon.
Dziobek reached her fundraising goal thanks to strangers who have supported her. Some people wrote her notes sharing who their donation was in honor of.
"It was just so touching," she said. "And so, if they gave a name, I'm going to carry those names with me for the walk."
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Dziobek wanted to stress the importance of early detection and getting tested. She said she's only been around for this long because of the work being done at Dana Farber and is honored to walk for the cause.
"The diagnosis of cancer is overwhelming, especially in the beginning. And ... when you hear that word, it's just strikes intense fear into you," Dziobek explained. "It's not a death sentence. We have lots of options."
Options that the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk helps support. Anyone who would like to donate to Dziobek and her team can click here.
Linda Dziobek is the hero for the team Ovarian Cancer Brigade. (Courtesy: Linda Dziobek)
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