Alumni News
George O’Malley, ’67: “At 73, I Run Because I Can. It’s A Race to Find A Cure for Cancer.”
If you watch the 127th Boston Marathon on April 17 along its 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Boston in person or view it on TV, one group of runners stands out – the 535 teammates representing the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC),
Be on the lookout for DFMC runner George O’Malley, ’67, running for his 21st time. He says,
It’s not important where you finish among the 30,000 runners. What’s important is the race to find the cure for cancer. The cure will come from research; research will come from funding; funding will come from donations. Every dollar pushes us closer to the finish line. My personal goal this year is $26,200.
Since 1990, DFMC has raised more than $115 million resulting in improved survival rates and quality of life for patients. The largest 2023 Marathon charity group, the DFMC team aims to raise $6.5 million in pursuit of a world without cancer.
Running for A Cause. As well as anyone, George is the embodiment of the English High School motto for he truly is a person of ‘honor, achievement, service to mankind.’
He decorates his runner’s vest with late daughter Jill’s name on the front (“She pulls me”) and names of those who have fought or are fighting the disease on the back (‘They push me’). George says, “I’m 73 and people ask, ‘Why do you run?’” Reasons include: the memory of daughter Jill Anne who lost her battle with cervical cancer in 2015; the memory of his brother Joe who died from cancer; in honor of life partner Marianne, diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic lymphoma last year; in memory of hundreds of friends and family who have been affected or afflicted; and “because I can.” He adds, “The transient aches and pains of training is nothing like the pains experienced with cancer.”
George and his three brothers were all English High alumni. After college, he ultimately became Director of Operations for the Boston affiliate of Habitat for Humanity where he used his management and construction skills to provide homes for economically disadvantaged families.
One of the things on his bucket list was to run the Marathon. “Life got in the way so I didn’t attempt it until 1999,” he says. “It was meant to be ‘a one and done.’” In 2001, after my brother died, I applied to the Dana-Farber team to honor him and raise money. After that race, I determined I was too old to continue, so I hung up my sneakers. But after the marathon bombing in 2013, I was incensed enough to participate one more time to show that bad guys cannot take this venerable institution away from Boston.”
After his oldest child, Jill Anne was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer and commenced treatment at Dana-Farber in the Fall of 2014, George was motivated to run one more time: “Part of the motivation was that Jill Anne was going to watch me from the ‘patient’s section’ at mile 25. Unfortunately, Jill Anne died 3 weeks before the race.”
I will continue to run for as long as I can to honor those who have fought and continue to fight,” George says. “Our achievement will be the continued support of the researchers and scientists at Dana-Farber in their race to a world free of cancer, so no other parent has to endure this life altering event.
“I look back 21 years when I decided I had done enough marathons, then realized it will never be enough until we find a cure,” George says. “I’m proud to be part of the Dana-Farber team, and of the community fighting cancer every day. If you have already donated, thank you! Please feel free to share my story with others who may have similar stories or a desire to help. Thank you for joining the fight. Please let me know if you would allow me to carry your loved ones with me on this journey. It is an honor and a major personal motivation.”
We’re rooting for you… Good luck, George!
May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face.
For more info and to donate to Dana Farber: http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/georgeomalley
