Hyundai Takes On Cancer, One Mile At A Time

On Sept. 17, thousands of people took steps to make a major impact in the fight against cancer and a difference in the lives of families facing this disease. They showed their commitment by participating in the 18th annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk, in which Hyundai Motor America served as presenting sponsor for the fourth year in a row.

Hyundai's presence was felt everywhere on Walk day. In addition to having the corporate logo displayed prominently on event signs and booths and Hyundai vehicles at the start in Wellesley, Mass., and the finish line in Boston, Mass., the company's own group of walkers—Team Hyundai—turned out once again to hit the pavement in support of this great cause. They joined the other 7,000 participants who together raised an estimated $5 million for research and patient care at Dana-Farber.

Twenty-one hundred marathon enthusiasts joined new Hyundai COO Steve Wilhite and Peter DiPersia, eastern region general manager for the Hopkinton 26.2-Mile Walk, which followed the famous Boston Marathon® course. Three thousand more people, including Mark Barnes, vice president of marketing, joined the festivities from Wellesley for the 13-mile course. In addition, many patients, their families, and several Boston-area Hyundai dealers chose to follow the third Walk route, starting at the Harvard Medical School Quad and finishing at Copley Square in Boston.

Participants were met along the course by hundreds of volunteers who passed out water, energy snacks, and enthusiastic motivation. The sea of walkers moving through the streets of Boston and its suburbs was an incredible show of support for the Jimmy Fund's fight against cancer at Dana-Farber.

A Team Approach
On the eve of the Walk, participants gathered together for a night of energizing food and celebration at the event's annual Pasta Party. Hyundai's very own "Hope on Wheels" Santa Fe, decorated with the colorful handprints of Jimmy Fund Clinic patients, was on hand to serve as a unique vehicular symbol of hope to all in attendance.

The highlight of the evening came when Team Hyundai capped of its fundraising efforts by presenting a check for $397,139 to Jimmy Fund Chairman Mike Andrews. This total represented all money raised by the team, funds raised by Hyundai's Strike Out Cancer campaign, and contributions from Hyundai dealers throughout the Northeast, Joining Andrews and the Hyundai group were several Walk Heroes—the young cancer patients who provide inspiration for walkers year after year.

"This event provides an opportunity for the whole community to come together and make a public stand against cancer," said DiPersia. "The Hyundai family is proud to be a member of that community and to help in the effort to rid the world of this terrible disease."

About the Jimmy Fund
Since 1948, the Jimmy Fund has supported the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer around the world. Millions of peope have joined forces, through thousands of events and other fundraising activities, with one goal in mind: to help the Jimmy Fund save countless lives by furthering cancer research and care at Dana-Farber. Today, the Jimmy Fund has become one of America's favorite charities.