In 2006, when Eric Zagorda was a sophomore at Northeastern University, studying bio-medical engineering, he walked into a hospital emergency room and informed the clinicians that he had leukemia. He had seen his symptoms in his sister Lauren, who had died in 2000 at age 12. Eric enrolled in a clinical trial at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, continued his studies, raised funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), entertained children in treatment, and visited schools to speak with students about cancer. In between, he took up poetry, card tricks, unicycling and juggling.

After two years of improvement, Eric’s condition worsened and he passed away in October 2008.

Last summer, four of Eric’s friends from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, just north of Albany, NY — Brittany Trowbridge, Colin Utz-Meagher, Alex James and Joe Pericone — pedaled from San Francisco to Boston in Eric’s honor, raising over $20,000 for LLS. The team passed through Burnt Hills, where Eric’s father, Kevin and close friend Paul, joined them in biking their last 190 miles to Boston. They knew Eric would have enjoyed their epic ride.

Mass General honors 100 individuals and groups for their diverse contributions to the fight against cancer.

There is strength in numbers and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center proves this each year. the one hundred is the Cancer Center’s annual fundraiser, honoring 100 individuals and groups whose diligence and discoveries, philanthropy and passion have helped advance the fight against cancer. Funds raised at the gala support research, patient care, education and community outreach programs.  Meet the Honorees.