‘It’s always for Susan’: Rochester resident honors friend in Jimmy Fund Walk

ROCHESTER — For Rochester resident Donna Tocci, the annual Jimmy Fund Walk celebrates the light of hope and joy amid tragedy.

“It is more about celebration and joy and positivity that we’re all helping to create by helping to raise funds for this,” she said.

The Jimmy Fund is a nonprofit organization that raises money to support the Boston-based Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which provides treatment and accomplishes research to support pediatric and adult cancer patients. 

Each year, Jimmy Fund Walk participants over the age of 18 raise a minimum of $330 and choose to walk specific distances, including a 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon. Walkers can participate at the in-person event or walk remotely from locations across the United States.

For the in-person event, participants will meet on Saturday, Oct. 5 at various starting points in towns such as Newton and Wellesley, and eventually reach the finish line in Boston.

Reaching her eleventh year of participation, Tocci is walking to support the Jimmy Fund with Team SuperNice to honor her late friend Susan Pernice.

Tocci met Pernice in the early ‘90s while she was working at the Boston Athletic Association where they “became fast friends.”

“She was a force of nature in the best possible way,” said Tocci.

Pernice was diagnosed with breast cancer and “was fortunate enough to have excellent treatment at Dana-Farber,” according to Tocci.

“She fought really hard, and all the wonderful professionals there were right there to help her,” she said. “Thankfully, she eventually became cancer-free.”

Tocci participated in her first Jimmy Fund Walk with Pernice, where they “had a great time.”

“She was invested in raising awareness and funds for cancer research and patient care, especially at the Dana-Farber [Institute],” said Tocci of Pernice.

In 2014, Pernice asked Tocci to walk the full marathon with her the next year to celebrate 20 years of being cancer free.

“Whenever she was really involved in something, she just made it so you wanted to be involved too,” said Tocci.

Before the two could participate in the full marathon together, Pernice passed away unexpectedly in January 2015 from a heart issue.

“I knew instantly that I had to do it for her,” said Tocci. Team SuperNice now participates in the walk every year.

“It was a little emotional that we had all culminated together here for her, but most times, it is a very celebratory, joyful walk,” said Tocci of the team’s first walk together in 2015.

Three members met in Falmouth together this year to walk, including Pernice’s sisters Kara and Deborah. One member will even be walking remotely from Maryland.

After each walk, the team enjoys lunch together at Kara’s home in Falmouth. 

This year, Tocci carries 19 names on her bid number — each representing someone she knows who has been diagnosed with cancer.

“It is doubly as important this year to really make sure that adult and pediatric cancer research continues to happen so that patients now and in the future can really have that hope,” said Tocci, reflecting on current proposed federal funding cuts to cancer research institutions.

Ultimately, Tocci and team hope to honor Pernice’s life while supporting a cancer institution that cares for and provides hope to patients of all ages.

“It’s always for Susan — who is the most energetic, selfless person in the world,” said Tocci.