Five-year-old cancer patient Violet LeClaire of Merrimack will be participating as a Walk Hero in this year's Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Oct. 6. Courtesy photo

MERRIMACK — Sixteen Merrimack residents will be participating in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Oct. 6.

They include Dennis Ford, Michelle Creswell, Kelly Boyce, Katie Wallace, Kathleen Fagan, Gary Inamorati, Jeremy Lawton, Thomas Wallace, Angela Campbell and Megan Schaller. They will take part in the iconic annual event that unites the community to raise funds and support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since it was established 35 years ago, the Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $176 million for Dana-Farber, raising a record-breaking $9.4 million in 2023.

Five-year-old Violet LeClaire will participate in the event as a Walk Hero. Heroes are Dana-Farber patients, the heart of the event, who provide inspiration and motivation to walkers along the course. Heroes are matched with teams who walk in their honor. Diagnosed with Wilms Tumor, Violet is matched with team Toss Out Cancer.

“Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund are the best,” said Violet. “I love playing in the playroom and seeing Lisa and my friends.”

“For 35 years, the Jimmy Fund Walk has continuously supported lifesaving research and cancer care at Dana-Farber. Our goal is to build off of the momentum we’ve established throughout that history and in 2024, aim to surpass our total from last year by raising $9.5 million,” said Caitlin Fink, assistant vice president of event fundraising. “Fighting cancer is what we do. The Walk unites our community under a common goal — to defy cancer together.”