Winchester dentist Dr. Janis Moriarty marks 15th Jimmy Fund Walk this October | Winchester

WINCHESTER – Local Winchester dentist Dr. Janis Moriarty will proudly mark her 15th year participating in the Jimmy Fund Walk on Sunday, Oct. 5, in the fight against cancer. The walk is an annual fundraising event that supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Dr. Moriarty said that this year will mark the 36th walk. She noted that it’s part of the change in seasons every year.

She said, “apple picking, football and the Jimmy Fund Walk are the hallmarks of the beginning of autumn every year. Sometimes I think about skipping a year but I can never do it. I feel a responsibility now, to continue my involvement and so far, every year my involvement includes walking and fundraising!”

The biggest change in the walk is that the popularity of the walk keeps growing year after year. She said that more people walk every year and this year it should be more than 9,000, and as a result more money is raised every year. This year’s goal is $9.5 million!

Another change is that the finish line had to move slightly two years ago due to construction at Copley Square, which continues. The finish line is now at the Boston Common, which suits their need well due to its large open space.

Another change happened during COVID when the walk shifted to a “virtual” event, where individuals walked either alone or in smaller groups, locally in their own neighborhoods. They have continued to have virtual walkers to increase involvement nationwide and she noted that they even have walkers walking “virtually” in other countries.

Dr. Moriarty usually raises approximately $20,000 every year and going into this walk she has raised $300K since 2011. It takes her about six months to accomplish this.

She said, “thankfully, I have amazing friends, colleagues and family who are annual supporters and each year I continue to find a few new donors.”

Fundraising is enhanced any way they can. Recently, she has started doing raffles and usually holds a few public fundraisers. One of her teammates hosted “Axe Out Cancer” at Urban Axes in Somerville, where a portion of each participant’s ticket fee goes to their team. She said that finding new ways to fundraise is always a fun challenge. Dr. Moriarty is at 75 percent of her goal to date at $16,000/$20,000.

Her team, Miles and Smiles, has a core of annual walkers and new walkers who come and go every year. They are a team based in teeth—having started with them all being dentists. They have grown to having dentists, hygienists, assistants, dental students, spouses, family members, and staff members from the Massachusetts Dental Society.

The number of walkers they have on their team changes every year. So far this year they have 22 walkers. As they are a team based in teeth, they have annually earmarked a portion of the funds they raise to directly benefit oral cancer research at Dana-Farber. Oral cancer is on the rise and funding research for it is both greatly needed and greatly impactful. The treatments for oral cancer, whether surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or usually a combination, lead to very uncomfortable side effects and for patients with oral cancer, life is never the same. They are very proud and passionate to contribute financially to oral cancer research via their participation in the Jimmy Fund Walk.

For the past six years, Dr. Moriarty has recruited her son Brendan to join her in the walk and this year is no different. He and some friends walk on their own and they all meet up at the beginning for a photo.

Dr. Moriarty stated that the Jimmy Fund Walk is the only event sanctioned by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) to take place on the iconic Boston Marathon route. Walkers are able to choose between walking the full marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K. Over the years as Dr. Moriarty has become busier with less time to train, she has started walking shorter routes. This year she will do either the 10K or 5K.

She stated, “one of the best things about the 5K route is that it starts at Dana-Farber, and many pediatric patients, nurses and family members stand in the glass bridge overlooking our start line, waving and holding signs wishing us good luck. It’s very inspirational.”

Dr. Moriarty noted that “the knowledge that we are raising money to find a cure for cancer, or at the very least ease the battles of those facing treatment, is the biggest reward of walking a few miles.”

When she used to walk 26.2 miles over nine hours it was uncomfortable but it pales in comparison to what cancer patients go through each day so her motto was always “no complaining!”

New walkers are always welcome on their team and they always add something new to the team. Winchester can help with donations by visiting https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/Janis15 or joining the team by visiting https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/TeethTeam25.