Jen's Friends looking for record Climb for Cancer [09/21/2002]

Organization in fifth year of helping local families fight cancer

Jen's Friends, one of the few cancer non-profits that gives back directly to the community, is turning five and will mark the event with the fifth annual Climb for Cancer up Mount Cranmore today at 11 a.m. Organizers are hoping for a record turnout in an effort to set a record for funds raised. "We'd love to see 500 people in the walk," Scott Aronson, president of Jen's Friends, said. "The most people we've had has been right around 400, but we're really pushing hard to set a record. I think it's a personal goal of all of ours."Jen's Friends is dedicated to helping patients and families fight cancer and improve the standard of living for those who have been diagnosed with the disease. More than 90 percent of donations is immediately available to aid cancer patients and their families. Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation, founded in 1998, was developed by a volunteer group of UNH alumni to support Jennifer Hill (Class of '94) as she fought the battle of her life against cancer. "There were about six of us original founders," Aronson said, "and a lot of other supporters helped us get it off the ground. The first climb was on Oct. 17, 1998, and our slogan then was 'Want to help us save a life?' Jen was such a kind, giving person that she didn't want the whole campaign to be about her. She asked that it be extended to include others besides herself... That first year, I'll bet we had right around 300 people in the first walk.Hill lost her battle with cancer on Nov. 2, 1998, but friends and family kept her spirit and the ball rolling and have continued to do remarkable things ever since. "I'm really proud of what we've been able to do," Aronson said. "Our job is to help people in need in the valley. We've been able to help over 40 families since coming into being... This fifth year is so memorable for all of us. It kind of brings back why we started. This is such a tight community and I can feel that there's a real bond. It's so wonderful for us to be a part of it."In 1998, Jen's Friends raised $7,000. In 1999, the figure rose to $15,000; in 2000, $28,000; and last year, $40,000."This year," Aronson said, "we're hoping we can reach between $44,000 and $50,000. Our goal is $50,000. Our climb is the our big fund-raiser it can really make or break us but this community has done so much to support Jen's Friends. There's been everything from a Monte Carlo night to M&D Productions fundraising for us."Although not allowed to use names of people who have received assistance from Jen's Friends for such things as transportation, groceries, fuel and in-home care to health care, Aronson said there are so many "heartfelt" stories of success."There was a woman, we'll call her Margaret," he said, "who was a single, middle-aged woman who put off cancer treatments because she had other expenses. We were able to pay for her groceries and help her with the rent in order to prevent her eviction. It was nice to be able to help her in a couple of different ways.""Then there was a male teen, we'll call Jack, who was making daily radiation trips to Maine and Boston," Aronson continued. "We were able to assist him with groceries and gas for transportation. Jack is now back in school and doing really well. You look at the success stories that come out of this program and it feels so good... One more story, in our first year, White Mountain Oil was so good to us they helped with a heating unit so an elderly lady could live out her last days at home. Our job is to help people, and we try our best to make sure that we do... Jen's Friends provides supplemental financial resources to the patients of the Mount Washington Valley region and their families in a time of need. We work very hard to obtain grants and receive donated business services, so that more of what you give goes to those who need it the most. "Jen's Friends has become known across the United States. The Plano Texas School District contacted the organization to learn the structure and design of Jen's Friends and is establishing a Jen's Friends there."It's just another sign that we've made it and we aren't going anywhere," Aronson said. "I really think we knew we were on our way when Inar Gustafson (the original Jimmy Fund child) solidified us by joining us for the 1999 and 2000 climbs that kind of said that Jen's Friends is for real."Aronson is hoping for weather like the last couple of days for the today's climb. He said hikers can participate individually or in teams, and can take either of two 3.1 mile round-trip routes up and down Mount Cranmore. (They can also do half-climbs if that makes participation possible for them.) "We really encourage teams," Aronson said, pointing out that teams (comprised of families, friends, co-workers or members of any group) tend to raise more money. "Last year the average individual hiker raised more than $125 in pledges and donations, whereas teams averaged more than $1,200 each.""We've got a lot of great things planned for the day," he continued. "Of course we'll have our post-climb cook-out afterwards. There will be plenty of bottled water and Ben&Jerry's on hand thanks to Castle Springs and Sut Marshall, who are joining WMWV as sponsors... We're going to have a great weekend!"Brochures for the climb and pledge sheets are available at Village Barber Shop, Reverence for Life Building, Chuck Roast, Shop 'n Save or on line at www.jensfriends.org.The schedule for today is registrationfrom 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Cranmore. There will be a speaker from 10:45 to 11 a.m. The hike begins at 11 a.m. Live entertainment and cookout is from 12:30 to 3 p.m. with raffles and awards taking placethroughout the day.