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Paddy's Irish Pub to host cancer fundraiser on Sept. 3

Date: 8/30/2010

Aug. 30, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

SIXTEEN ACRES -- Chris Landry has been helping the Jimmy Fund through donations for years. This year, he's stepping up his efforts literally.

Landry will be taking part in his first Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund walk, which is designed to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The walk is scheduled for Sept. 12 on the same route as the Boston Marathon.

"I usually donate every year. This is the first time doing a walk, though. I went down to Boston in July and it caught my eye when I was on the [MBTA]," Landry said. "I thought, 'I haven't done that and I always support them, so why not actually do something like a walk?'"

In an effort to raise as much money as possible, Landry has teamed up with Paddy's Irish Pub at 1060 Wilbraham Rd., to organize a fundraising event. The East Springfield native will be selling raffle tickets on Sept. 3 at Paddy's for with four prizes being awarded to winners throughout the evening.

"I come here all the time to Paddy's, I know the guys, the bartenders, the owner and I thought why not try to get a little more money for the Jimmy Fund by coming in here and doing a raffle?" Landry explained.

Tickets are $5 apiece or $20 for six, according to Landry. A drawing for $25 off the winner's tab will be happen at approximately 7 p.m., followed by a drawing for tickets to the Sept. 17 Red Sox game against the Toronto Blue Jays at 12:30 a.m. A second drawing for Red Sox tickets Oct. 2 against the New York Yankees and the final drawing with a prize of $50 off the winner's tab will both happen at approximately 1 a.m.

The fundraising goal for the walk set for him by the Jimmy Fund is $250, but Landry has set his sights much higher, aiming for $1,000. He also said in addition to money, he hopes to raise awareness about cancer and what the Jimmy fund and Dana Farber do.

"I thought it would be a good way to let everybody know and let everyone be aware of the Jimmy Fund," Landry said. "I know a lot of people hear about the Jimmy Fund, but don't really understand a lot about it."

Landry said he takes the cause seriously because he has been impacted personally by cancer.

I've lost my grandmother, uncle and aunt [to cancer] and a close family friend was just diagnosed with a brain tumor," Landry said. "I've been affected quite a bit by family passing away due to cancer."

The majority of the marketing for the project has gone through Paddy's Irish Pub's group on Facebook and through word of mouth. Landry said he is expecting a lot of support because of the timing of the event.

"School is going to be in session and it's on a Friday so a lot of people are going to be here anyways," Landry said. "It actually wasn't planned out that way. I actually wanted to have it earlier, but conflicts with work and with [Paddy's]."

Those who are unable to attend, but wish to sponsor Landry may do so by going to the event's invitation page on Facebook, which has all the information on where to donate.

Donations can also be made by going to the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund walk Web site at www.jimmyfundwalk.org. From there supporters can either make a general donation or click the "Support a Walker" link to sponsor Landry.

Either way, Landry encourages people to donate, no matter what the amount.

"If you'd like to donate, you can donate as much as you want. A dollar here, two bucks is fine," Landry said.