August 25, 2004
Dana-Farber patients, caregivers to 'star' in WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon on Friday
Although sports luminaries from New England's past and present will provide star power for the third annual WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon, the real wattage will be supplied by Dana-Farber's clinicians and patients, who will play an integral role in the Aug. 27 fundraiser at Fenway Park.
Scheduled to run from 6 a.m. to midnight this Friday, the 18-hour radiothon is now the signature fundraising event for Boston's Sports Radio WEEI 850 AM. In addition to the all-day broadcast, much of the event will be simulcast on the New England Sports Network (NESN), a fellow sponsor along with the Boston Red Sox.
Last year, buoyed by more than $240,000 collected through a live-auction sale of special-number Massachusetts Red Sox-Jimmy Fund license plates, the radiothon raised approximately $1.1 million – more than doubling its $500,000 goal. The fundraising bar for this year's event has been set at $850,000, not including a license plate auction.
In addition to the many patient and clinician on-air interviews and appearances, celebrity guests scheduled include Donald Trump and Michael J. Fox. The day will also feature other special events at Fenway, including a "How to Build a Champion" breakfast panel discussion featuring the general managers of Boston's four major pro sports teams, and "A Bird's Eye View of Fenway" tour and lunch forum with several current Red Sox players and WEEI personalities Dale Arnold and Bob Neumeier.
Late Friday afternoon, actor/comedian Mike O'Malley of the TV show "Yes, Dear" will host the "Heavy Hitters Cocktail Party," an invitation-only live auction at the Fenway Park Players Club. Expected to attend are author Stephen King, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, Sox owner John Henry, Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, and former Bruin Ray Bourque, among others.
For more information or to make a pledge, visit www.jimmyfundradio.org or call (877) 738-1234.
Faced with the task of throwing a baseball 60 feet, 6 inches in front of 35,000 people, 25 Dana-Farber physician-scientists honored with delivering first pitches Friday night at Fenway Park as part of the WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon (including Susan Bauer-Wu, DNSc, RN, pictured above at right) got hurling tips from a very reputable source yesterday afternoon: Boston Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace. Joined by other members of the Sox coaching staff, Wallace helped each doctor with his or her footing, windup, and delivery from an impromptu "mound" set up in the parking lot at 454 Brookline Ave. Clad in their white lab coats, the clinicians and researchers tossed balls over, in front of, and occasionally right to DFCI locksmith/catcher Kevin Duncan as fellow staff, patients, and Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster cheered them on.
