Pictures: Dream day at Fenway helps Jimmy Fund

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Lifelong baseball fans got to make their childhood dreams come true while raising money to fight cancer at the John Hancock Fenway Fantasy Day to benefit the Jimmy Fund.


More than 140 people participated in the 22nd annual event, where participants got to bat and field at Fenway Park.


Since it started in 1992, Fantasy Day has raised more than $7 million in support of pediatric and adult cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber.


Take a look at some scenes from the sunny day at the stadium.





Lifelong baseball fans got to make their childhood dreams come true while raising money to fight cancer at the John Hancock Fenway Fantasy Day to benefit the Jimmy Fund.


More than 140 people participated in the 22nd annual event, where participants got to bat and field at Fenway Park.


Since it started in 1992, Fantasy Day has raised more than $7 million in support of pediatric and adult cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber.


Take a look at some scenes from the sunny day at the stadium.


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Former Red Sox closer Keith Foulke, a member of the 2004 World Series championship team, pitched to a select few donors.


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Gavin Strand, here with his dad, Dan, turned 2 the day before the event. Gavin was diagnosed a year ago to the day with High Risk Pre B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and was one of 10 pediatric patients participating in the event.


The tot is a huge Red Sox fan—so much so that when his mom Katie puts on cartoons, she said he makes them change it to baseball.


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“They’re a lifesaver,” Katie said about the Jimmy Fund. “He wouldn’t be where he is today without them.”


Pictured: Dan, Gavin, and Katie Strand, with former Sox player Keith Foulke.


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Chuck Nilosek (left), of Plymouth, who hosts “Life is Great—New England” on WBIN, and Derek Gregoire, of Lakeville, waited in the dugout for their turn to bat.


Were they confident in showing off their batting skills? “I was feeling good until I went to the cages,” Derek said.


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Gavin’s cousin Sophia Strand, of Fitchburg, spent some time with Foulke, who was doing a meet-and-greet for participants.


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Patrick Bleakney stepped up to bat.


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From left: Kelly Dexter, Jim Belisle, and Luana Bleakney, all of Blackstone, rooted on Luana’s husband, Patrick, whose father passed away from cancer.


“We’ve always been longtime advocates of The Jimmy Fund,” Luana said.


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Hitters got to see their name on the Fenway board.


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Kylene Gregoire with her sons Camden (left) and Paxton, of Lakeville, who cheered on their dad, Derek.


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Keith Foulke took a few swings at bat.


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Jimmy Fund volunteer Mari Levine (right), of Chestnut Hill, posed with volunteer Jared Mayers, of the South End, who served as catcher.


“Everyone’s just been smiling all day,” he said.


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Amy Eisenberg (left), of Dartmouth, and Liza Herlands, of Connecticut, came out to support Amy’s stepfather, Bill Seltz. Bill was gifted the opportunity to bat with a donation from his wife, Lois Lindauer.


“What little boy doesn’t want to grow up to be a baseball player?” Lois said.


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Chris Nilosek, of Plymouth, hung out in the dugout while his dad was at bat.


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The Reinharts, clockwise from top left: David, Heidi, David Jr., and Catherine, of Quincy, came to watch David bat against Keith Foulke, an opportunity he won.


“It’s a lot of fun, but more importantly, it’s raising money for a good cause,” David said.


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Nine-year-old Matthew Russo, who hit off a tee with other young participants, was there with Team Russo, a group of family and friends that has raised over $500,000 to find a cure for cancer.


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