The one hundred honoree: Jennifer Sheridan

Jennifer (Jennie) Sheridan has lost two sisters and a brother to cancer. During their illnesses, she, her siblings and her parents shared the responsibilities of their care. Jennie took them to doctors visits, had her brother move in with her during his chemotherapy treatments, nursed all of them through the ill effects of chemotherapy, and did a great deal of research to find treatments for them — all while raising three young children with her husband. After their deaths, instead of becoming bitter and angry, Jennie found strength through their plight and took up running marathons. Every year for the past several years, she has trained through the cold Boston winters and run the Boston Marathon. She runs the marathons in memory of her siblings. In the past four years, she has raised more than $100,000 for cancer research at Dana-Farber. Jennie also has helped to organize a team for charity bike rides, which raise funds to benefit brain tumor research; maintains a blog in memory of her siblings; and serves on the board of a charitable cancer research organization. She is an inspiration to those around her and a true hero in the fight against cancer.