Event details
Each year, you and thousands of people like you, make the UMass Cancer Walk a success. The money you raise supports cancer research and care, and clinical trials of new potentially lifesaving therapies taking place right here in Central Massachusetts at UMass Chan Medical School.
Important update: 2026 UMass Cancer Walk canceled due to severe weather
After careful consideration and the advice of Worcester public safety officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the UMass Cancer Walk scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, due to the nor’easter and the forecast for heavy rain and strong winds.
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History
Dottie Manning witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of cancer. First, she and her husband Dan Manning Sr. lost their son Danny to the disease in 1994. More devastating loss followed just two years later, when Dan Sr. lost his battle.
It was then that Dottie and family friend Bob Haynes decided it was time to take a stand. Together, they started a large-scale fundraising event to fight cancer, and in 1999 the walk was born. Since then, the UMass Cancer Walk has grown into one of the region’s most significant one-day fundraising events, and supporters have raised more than $17 million for cancer research.