Fifty years before Marty Walsh became Boston’s mayor, he was a scared seven-year-old from Dorchester, MA facing a frightening diagnosis. Walsh had Burkitt’s lymphoma, a serious form of childhood cancer. His parents turned to Boston Children’s Hospital for help. It was the start of a 4-year battle, where Walsh received lifesaving chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Bright future ahead
After conquering cancer, Walsh went on to become Boston’s mayor and the U.S. Secretary of Labor. A proud cancer survivor, Walsh knows his journey wouldn’t have been possible without Boston Children’s top-ranked research and care. And he knows kids facing cancer today deserve the same shot at a bright future.
Full-circle journey
In January 2025, Walsh returned to Boston Children’s—not as a patient, but as a passionate advocate for pediatric cancer research. As Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association, Walsh introduced the “Hockey Fights Cancer” campaign and announced a $600,000 grant to Boston Children’s.
The grant funds pioneering research into T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive cancer affecting many children. This research could lead to new treatments designed specifically for each child’s unique genetic cancer profile. It means hope for kids facing tough diagnoses.
Two passions, one goal
A longtime hockey fan, Walsh remembers when Boston Children’s made a childhood dream come true: meeting hockey legend Bobby Orr. “He came to visit the kids,” Walsh said. “This was the ‘70s. He was larger than life. He still is.”
It’s fitting that Walsh has found a way to honor his childhood hero’s legacy and help kids fight cancer—paying forward the compassion he received as a child.
