CHICOPEE — After watching their brother, husband and uncle fight through a cancer diagnosis, the Leahy family knew they wanted to help support the research that had helped him. On Oct. 6, the family and friends of John Leahy will walk the 10K Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk to raise funds for cancer research.
“I decided to walk because I want to support my brother and other cancer patients,” explained Joan Leahy, John’s brother. “Dana Farber is one of the leading cancer research facilities in the world and I believe it is important to continue to raise money for them so that they can continue to develop new treatments for cancer patients.”
John said, “It means a lot to me that she and my brother are joining me in the walk. I get emotional when I think about it.”
The family’s cancer journey began in May 2023, when a routine prostate-specific antigen test for John led to a prostate cancer diagnosis.
“I was extremely fortunate that my primary care physician, Dr. Darren O’Neill of Enfield Medical Associates, sent me to a specialist even though my PSA score was below the recommended threshold,” recalled. “After a series of tests, I found out that I had an aggressive form of prostate cancer and that I also had renal cell cancer.”
John credits O’Neill for acting swiftly, thus giving him options. O’Neill walked John through everything, discussing all his test results with him and walking him through the next steps.
“I cannot overstate how important those calls were to me,” added John. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was the not knowing and the waiting period between the tests and the results.”
The family came together through the removal of his kidney in July 2023 and then six weeks of radiation in the fall of 2023. Now the family is supporting him and other cancer patients again.
“I am looking forward to raising money for such an important cause and spending time with not only our team members but all of the other walkers and participants,” said Joan. “I am also looking forward to celebrating my brother’s one year anniversary of his surgery and the end of his radiation treatment with him and the other members of Team Leahy.”
Although it made for a difficult time, John frequently reiterates his gratitude for those who got him through the diagnosis and treatment and for the positive changes in his life that came from it.
“The good news is that, at the recommendation of my oncologist, I lost 80 pounds, and I have committed to a strength and conditioning program to prevent muscle loss and weight gain,” noted John. “I feel better now than I have in years. I completed a 70-mile bike ride on Saturday for Ride to Remember in memory of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders.”
The family is walking the 10K course that begins in Newton. Joining John and Joan will be their brother Patrick and his wife, John’s wife and sons, and friends and coworkers of John’s. The family has received several donations from friends and family, as well as corporate donations from Verizon and People’s Bank.
“I have been extremely lucky to have the support of my family and friends throughout this journey,” said John Leahy. “Stories like this are important to people going through cancer. When you first receive the diagnosis it is overwhelming and scary. Like most people, I started searching the internet and it always helped to see positive stories and outcomes.”
