Photo: Phil Smith
The Central Massachusetts community filled Polar Park on Sunday, Sept. 28, for the 27th annual UMass Cancer Walk. Thousands of participants gathered to honor loved ones, celebrate survivors and raise vital funds to directly sustain cancer research and clinical trials at UMass Chan Medical School. This year’s walk raised more than $450,000 with additional donations still being accepted through December.
Leaders highlighted the groundbreaking research underway at UMass Chan. The institution is running more than 160 cancer-related clinical trials, providing more than 400 patients access to innovative treatments years before they become widely available.
“Every breakthrough brings us closer to a future where cancer is no longer a life-defining diagnosis,” said Richard Gregory, PhD, the Eleanor Eustis Farrington Chair in Cancer Research and chair and professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology.
Among the walkers was UMass Chan faculty member and patient advocate Jill Zitzewitz, PhD, associate professor of radiology, who has been living with multiple myeloma since 2017. Dr. Zitzewitz leads the team Jill’s Maroon Walkers, a group of family, friends, colleagues and community members who join together each year to support her and advance cancer research.
Jill Zitzewitz, PhD, (left) with medical students Jaein Jung and Angelina Cicerchia. Dr. Zitzewitz has woven her personal experience into her teaching, educating graduate and medical students on pharmacology, cancer biology and protein misfolding, often sharing insights on how therapies emerge from years of basic science research.
Photo: Hallie Leo
“Being a patient, scientist and educator here at UMass Chan has given me a unique perspective. I feel like I can bring my whole self—Jill the scientist, Jill the educator, Jill the patient—and my colleagues and students have supported me every step of the way,” Zitzewitz said. “I can’t imagine getting my care anywhere else.”
Zitzewitz was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after months of back pain and fatigue that led to compression fractures and a battery of tests. Under the care of UMass Memorial’s myeloma specialists, she underwent chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and later additional therapies as the disease returned. This October, she will begin CAR T-cell therapy, a treatment recently FDA-approved that engineers a patient’s own T cells to better target cancer cells.
Throughout her journey, Zitzewitz has woven her personal experience into her teaching. She educates graduate and medical students on topics such as pharmacology, cancer biology and protein misfolding, often sharing insights on how therapies emerge from years of basic science research.
“None of the treatments I’ve received were originally designed for multiple myeloma,” Zitzewitz said. “They came from basic science—understanding how cells work. Without that research, we wouldn’t have the transformational therapies we do today.”
This year, Zitzewitz added a special touch for her UMass Cancer Walk team: Everyone who donated to it was entered into a drawing to win a blanket she crocheted.
“When I was first diagnosed, one of the first things I did was crochet each of my four kids a blanket, so they’d always have a hug from mom,” she said. “Now, I crochet in the infusion chair. It’s become a way to give back.”
Since 1999, the UMass Cancer Walk has raised more than $17 million to fund adult and pediatric cancer research and clinical trials.
“Sunday’s UMass Cancer Walk was another powerful reminder that when we come together, we can fuel discoveries that save lives. With federal research funding facing cutbacks, every dollar raised here in Worcester matters more than ever,” said John Hayes, vice chancellor for advancement. “Thanks to the generosity and spirit of our walkers, sponsors and volunteers, UMass Chan researchers can continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge and finding new ways to prevent, treat and cure cancer. We are deeply grateful for this outpouring of support.”
As of Sept. 29, this year’s top fundraising teams are:
- ForHealth Consulting SoleMates - $11,532
- Cancer Research Office - $9,563
- Queen Vee and Her Bees with - $8,000
- Allie’s Warriors - $7,544
- Sharon’s Shimmy Shakers - $7,370
Jill’s Maroon Walkers placed 15th among the top 100 teams with nearly $4,000 raised this year.
Donations to the 2025 UMass Cancer Walk will be accepted through Dec. 31 at umasscancerwalk.org. Read more inspiring stories like Zitzewitz’s.
