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Local family raises $1 million for cancer research

Over the last decade, one local family has been walking, golfing and dancing their way to raising over $1 million for cancer research, and next week, they'll add to that total when they finish their thirteenth Jimmy Fund Walk.

"My experiences define me in many ways and as I continue to live with a brain tumor," says Caroline Hamilton, as she reads the college essay she wrote last fall.

"I take the realization that while the course of my treatment may change, I will have what it takes to get me through challenging times," she continues.

Caroline was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor when she was a 6-year-old.

Her mother, Sarah, says that Caroline has consistently been through treatments throughout the last 12  years.

"We've chosen to embrace it and to do everything that we can to make it better," said Sarah. "To deal with it the best way we can."

Embracing it and paying it forward. Caroline's first treatment was at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

It was there that Sarah started a team for the Jimmy Fund Walk called Team Chickaroo - Caroline's nickname. (Boston 25 News is a media sponsor of the Jimmy Fund Walk).

The walk became an annual tradition, and Caroline became an inspiration to her community in Methuen.

"One of the benefits of my diagnosis is the people who have come into my life as a result," said Caroline.

The donations started coming in and the walk expanded to a Team Chickaroo golf tournament and then a social event for moms called the "Mom Prom."

"In this basket, we have a collection of all the t-shirts from previous walks, golf tournaments, etc.," said Caroline, holding up a basket with dozens of t-shirts.

This year, Team Chickaroo passed the $1 million fundraising mark for the Jimmy Fund. Some of that money funded a clinical trial a few years ago that Caroline was part of.

"I got to tell people that your $25 donation, your walking, really impacted her and helped her," said Sarah.

A different trial has so far stabilized the growth of Caroline's brain tumor. After years of struggle, she's now preparing for her first semester of college, where she hopes to eventually major in psychology.

Related: Holliston mom hopes 'Timmy Cakes' could help cure cancer one day