Step By Step For The Jimmy Fund

Janet Hovious says she felt like a million dollars when she and her husband Joe crossed the finish line of the 10th annual 26.2-mile Boston Marathon-Jimmy Fund walk last Sunday.

“It was the most rewarding and inspirational thing I’ve ever done,” the Newtown resident said.

The event, which follows the route of the Boston Marathon from Hopkinton, Mass., to Copley Square in Boston, raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  This year’s goal was $2.4 million.

The Hoviouses were among some 8,000 persons who participated in the walk.

“Some ran, some walked,” Mrs Hovious said. “Some joined the walk at its halfway point, some three miles out. It is not a race – it is a personal challenge.”

Covering the 26.2 miles took the couple six hours, from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.

“We stopped for about a half hour for lunch and to change our socks, another half hour for the rest stops. This was our best time ever,” she said.

Although this was the fourth time Janet Hovious has participated, it was the first time she had the opportunity to see the cancer patients, mostly children, and their parents who joined in the walk a mile and a half from Copley square.

“There were people on crutches and a man who only had one arm to make his wheelchair roll,” she said. “It was a powerful sight.”

Each walker received a T-shirt and a fanny pack.  The T-shirts were left blank on the back so the walkers, some of whom were on teams, could add their own messages.

“There were slogans like ‘Footsteps for Fred’ or other messages to honor persons who were battling cancer or had died from it,” Janet Hovious said. “You walked along reading the backs of the shirts. It was inspirational and a lot of fun. “

The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the 66 to 70-degree range.

 “Before we knew it, we were crossing the finish line,” Mrs Hovious said. “They welcome you, take your picture, and make you feel like a million dollars. It really makes you count your blessings.”