The UMass Memorial Foundation
Ali & Dad's Army
John Pierce was devastated when he lost his vivacious 14-year-old daughter Ali to cancer in 1996. Ali had fought a courageous and selfless battle while managing to keep her sense of humor. |
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| John, inspired by Ali's courage and memory, set out to create "Ali's Army," a group of runners who would run for Ali at the Boston Marathon. Their goal was to raise money to establish the Ali Pierce Endowment Fund. The fund supports pediatric cancer research and programs at the UMass Medical School and at the UMass Children's Medical Center. John and "Ali's Army" began their training in earnest but tragically, less than a year after Ali's death, while running a half marathon, John, 50, suffered a massive heart attack and died just ten feet from the finish line. |
Cousins Lisa Ling
and Ali Pierce
1992
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Anna Ling Pierce, Ali's mom and John's wife who had previously found it much too painful to be a part of "Ali's Army," knew she had to carry on her husband's goal of raising money to support pediatric cancer research. Anna changed the name of the fund to "Ali & Dad's Army" and runners for both Ali and Dad completed their first Boston Marathon in 1998. Now leading the Army with the help of her two sons Mike and J.T., "Ali & Dad's Army" has gained national recognition. "The thing that inspires me," Anna says "is that I'm not carrying that lamp alone. There are a thousand torches alongside me. This is Ali & Dad's Army. It's for helping kids who have cancer and for keeping John's mission alive." |
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| Ali" & "Dad" will once again be running the Boston Marathon on April 16, 2001 in the presence of Lisa Ling and Tony Saizon along with eight other foot soldiers. Our honorary "Ali" runner, Lisa Ling, is Ali's own cousin and a host on ABC's "The View" which airs weekdays at 11am ET. Lisa is determined to help march "Ali & Dad's Army" on to triumph. Running the marathon will not be easy for her but compared to the path her cousin and so many others have had to travel while battling cancer she doesn't think it will be so bad. Lisa's inspiration and the outpouring of support will help her to cross the finish line. |
Ali Pierce
1982 - 1996
John Pierce
1947 - 1997
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Tony's life, like the Pierce's and countless others, has been dramatically altered by cancer. Tony's parents, non-smokers, both died of lung cancer within six years of each other. His older sister met the same fate after a battle with ovarian cancer. All died within six months of diagnosis. Tony's brother is currently under attack. Inspired by Ali and John, Tony is making strides to bring an end to cancer so that it will not touch others as it has his family. |
Tony Saizon
Honorary "Dad"
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Today, "Ali & Dad's Army" is raising money to support pediatric cancer research and programs at the UMass Medical School and at the UMass Children's Medical Center. Programs such as the Ali Pierce Integrative Treatment Program... Ali's Gift, Project Hope, Experimental Treatments, and Professional Staff Supportaid pediatric cancer patients and their families. The research being done at UMass is shared and benefits children worldwide.
Join Our Army. Enlist to Support "Ali" & "Dad"