Paying It Forward: Tewksbury Cancer Survivor Now Running to Help Others

When Jim McGinley was 28, he started experiencing back pain, lightheadedness and dizzy spells during everyday tasks, like walking up a flight of stairs.

Soon doctors would find a tumor in McGinley’s colon. Surgery revealed it was in stage 3B.

As McGinley, a Tewksbury resident, fought the disease, his friends fought for him. 

They organized a team, “Team ;,” (the semi-colon a nod to their friend’s partial colon after surgery) to run in the Lahey Health 5K Cancer Walk & Run, raising money for cancer patient services.

From a few friends, McGinley’s team rapidly expanded to 47 – and donations came in from over 300 more for a total of more than $13,000.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” McGinley said. “The show of support really meant a lot.”

McGinley ran the 5K with his team last year, and now cancer free (according to a recent check-up), he’ll run with them again, inspired to help others like him.

The 2014 Lahey Health 5K Cancer Walk & Run is set for Saturday, June 7, in two locations, Burlington and Peabody. The run raises funds for patient services at four Lahey Health locations, in Burlington, Peabody, Beverly and Gloucester. This year’s overall fundraising goal is $290,000.