Providers of Care
Hematology & Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center
Psychiatric Oncology
Oncology Nursing
Oncology Social Work
Physicians Assistants
Other MassGeneral Departments
Special Focus
Breakthroughs
Collaborations
Community Outreach
Patient Guide to the Cancer Center
Guía en espańol (1.33MB / pdf)
A Guide for Families of Children with Cancer (456K / pdf)
Environments of Care
Healing Garden
Illuminations
Kaleidoscope
Wall of Hope
MassGeneral Resources
Cancer Resource Room
Treadwell Library
Blum Learning Center
Digital Information for Patients (DIP)
He has run plenty of marathons-- 19 to be exact-- but for Dr. Howard Weinstein, chief of the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC), each year has its own rewards.
This April, Weinstein completed his 12th Boston Marathon raising money for the MassGeneral Marathon Team, Fighting Kids Cancer … One Step at a Time, which he founded in 1998 and still coaches.
“It’s always a really exciting time of year for me,” Weinstein says. “I think because it’s such an important component of our childhood cancer program and I know how meaningful it is to our patients and their families.”
Over the years the team has raised more than $5 million, which supports clinical and laboratory research and other programs for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit at MGHfC.
This year, 41 child cancer patients who are receiving treatment at the MGHfC Cancer Center were paired with marathon runners. Weinstein’s patient partner was a 9-year-old girl who developed a lymphoma many years after a liver transplant.
“[She is] someone who I see very often in our clinic and we just have a wonderful relationship and I knew she would really be thrilled and honored to be involved in it,” Weinstein says.
Weinstein’s patient and the other patient partners and their families lined the street at Mile 20, as they do every year. Hundreds of other supporters from MGHfC cheered on the runners with signs and noisemakers, making for Weinstein’s most memorable marathon moment.
Weinstein says the crowd at Mile 20 seemed even bigger this year. “It looked like it stretched for a good block and a half. I stopped for hugs and high fives.”
It’s no wonder the supporters and runners alike were so revved up for the race after the annual pasta dinner, where runners present their patient partners with medals the night before the marathon. This year close to 400 people attended the dinner at the Seaport Hotel.
“It’s a very, very moving and emotional evening for all who are involved,” Weinstein says.
The donations are still coming in for the MassGeneral Marathon Team, which raised $650,000 for MassGeneral Hospital for Children last year. In the meantime, Weinstein says it’s too early to say whether he’ll run again next year, but he’s already feeling the pressure-- from his own children.
More information about the MassGeneral Marathon Team
This April, Weinstein completed his 12th Boston Marathon raising money for the MassGeneral Marathon Team, Fighting Kids Cancer … One Step at a Time, which he founded in 1998 and still coaches.
“It’s always a really exciting time of year for me,” Weinstein says. “I think because it’s such an important component of our childhood cancer program and I know how meaningful it is to our patients and their families.”
Over the years the team has raised more than $5 million, which supports clinical and laboratory research and other programs for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit at MGHfC.
Patient inspiration
This year, 41 child cancer patients who are receiving treatment at the MGHfC Cancer Center were paired with marathon runners. Weinstein’s patient partner was a 9-year-old girl who developed a lymphoma many years after a liver transplant.
“[She is] someone who I see very often in our clinic and we just have a wonderful relationship and I knew she would really be thrilled and honored to be involved in it,” Weinstein says.
Weinstein’s patient and the other patient partners and their families lined the street at Mile 20, as they do every year. Hundreds of other supporters from MGHfC cheered on the runners with signs and noisemakers, making for Weinstein’s most memorable marathon moment.
Weinstein says the crowd at Mile 20 seemed even bigger this year. “It looked like it stretched for a good block and a half. I stopped for hugs and high fives.”
It’s no wonder the supporters and runners alike were so revved up for the race after the annual pasta dinner, where runners present their patient partners with medals the night before the marathon. This year close to 400 people attended the dinner at the Seaport Hotel.
“It’s a very, very moving and emotional evening for all who are involved,” Weinstein says.
The donations are still coming in for the MassGeneral Marathon Team, which raised $650,000 for MassGeneral Hospital for Children last year. In the meantime, Weinstein says it’s too early to say whether he’ll run again next year, but he’s already feeling the pressure-- from his own children.
More information about the MassGeneral Marathon Team
