September 14, 2006
Vullo's Son Becomes a Hero For Upcoming Jimmy Fund Event

For those who support the annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk September 17, the reasons for doing so are as numerous as those who are facing their own fight with cancer.

For Daniel Webster's second year Head Softball Coach and Intramural Coordinator Chris Vullo however, the reasons are personal. In fact, they're as personal as anyone’s reasons could ever be.

Vullo’s 22-month old son, Colby, was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Sarcoma when he was just 15 months old.

“It’s an obvious challenge,” said Vullo, who resides in Manchester where he and his wife, Winona, care for their son. “Colby’s treatment has required multiple blood and platelet transfusions and with the travel and expense of going to Boston for treatments a minimum of every three weeks.”

Despite both the financial and emotional costs, Vullo sees encouraging signs. His son “continues to grow, despite the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and there are new advancements always coming along. There is always hope.”

That hope was strengthened when the Vullos were notified that Colby was selected as one of the Jimmy Fund Walk’s “Heroes,” a traditional practice that puts a name and face to the walk, which takes place this coming Sunday, September 17th. The event focuses on raising critical funds to support cutting-edge research and compassionate patient care at Dana-Farber.

Colby himself is profiled on the Jimmy Fund website (www.jimmyfund.org) under the “Meet Our Heroes” subhead. Dressed in a yellow tee-shirt with a fireman’s hat print, Colby’s big blue eyes and wide smile indeed put a face to the cause. “My hobbies are playing with my two dogs, flirting with girls, coloring, and reading with my mom and dad,” Colby’s entry says.

The route, which follows the same route as the 26-mile Boston Marathon, starts in Hopkinton at 6:00 a.m. Shorter walks include a 13.1-mile route from Wellesley at 9:00 a.m., and a three-mile route from Harvard Medical Center at 2:00 p.m.
The designation of hero was offered to 28 other children in similar situations to Vullo’s son. Moreover, heroes draw various sponsoring teams, which for Colby will be “Team Dana Farber,” headed by Katie O’Leary, who serves as a development officer with the institute in Boston.

“Every year we have had a development team walking for this cause,” said O’Leary. “And it’s always a particular honor to have a ‘hero’ as motivation and inspiration for the team. When you’re in an office, you can get wrapped up in office life. Reaching out and meeting children like Colby reminds you why you do what you do and why you participate in such a worthy cause.”

Colby, whose picture will actually be posted on a board at the three-mile mark from Hopkinton, will be among the participants as well. “Usually, each hero meets us at some point either along the route or at the finish line,” said O’Leary. “It’s a really great moment when you get to sit down and talk with the child. They’re all there, giving high fives, cheering, motivating us to complete the walk. It really is inspiring.”

Vullo echoed O’Leary’s thoughts. “Having the hero program really does put a face on why this walk is so important to raise awareness and funds for research,” he said. “I know Colby is looking forward to it.”

As an individual or a team, the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk makes a personal commitment to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. To learn more about the walk, visit www.jimmyfund.org.