AUBURN - A city like Boston is rich with athletic traditions.

From the World Champion Red Sox to the world-renowned Boston Marathon, it is a city that inspires greatness in both its native and visiting athletes.

But on Sept. 18, nearly 7,000 walkers filled the city to show there is another great tradition joining those ranks.

This was the 17th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

The walk began as a way of raising funds in the fight against cancer, to benefit research and care for children and adults at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In the past 17 years walkers have raised more than $35 million.

Lending their support in the fight this year were three determined walkers from Auburn.

Dan Nellenback and his wife, Mary, were joined by their niece Marie Nellenback as well as friends and family from the Boston area to form the team of Judith's Cutest in honor of the friend of a team member.

From the very beginning this was a moving experience.

"It was very uplifting and emotional," Mary said. "It was a walk with a lot of people who are cancer survivors so at every turn you could see the toll that it takes. It was very emotional all day."

Survivors were out walking and watching from the sidelines, as were many who are battling cancer. At every mile post there were pictures and biographies of children who were in hospitals The Nellenbacks said this served as a constant reminder of why they were there.

"There were posters with children," Dan said. "And they were writing about what they want to be when they grow up. A lot of them want to be doctors and nurses because that is almost all they've known. Seeing that mile after mile was a real motivation."

In an event such as this, motivation can be the key in making it across the finish line.

"I've never done anything so direct," Marie said. "That really made it feel extra special. It was just a small part, but it was really rewarding."

This 26.2-mile course follows the same route as the Boston Marathon and is the only event other than the marathon to be sanctioned by the Boston Athletic Association.

There were options to take smaller courses, a 13.1-mile walk starting in Wellesley or a 3-mile walk beginning at the Harvard Medical Quad, but the Nellenbacks had their sights set on one thing: the whole course from Hopkinton to the Copley Square finish line.

"When we start something we want to finish it," Dan said. "So you can't think about stopping. It is a good cause and very worthwhile. Compared to what people fighting cancer have to go through we can all walk a few miles."

In the months leading up to the walk all the Nellenbacks made an extra effort to get in shape.

"I try to exercise most days," Marie said. "And I try to do about 4 miles a day and by the end I was ready to do more."

Both Dan and Marie said they stay committed to being in shape.

"We all prepared by walking a lot," Mary said. "We try to take good care of ourselves and stay fit, but we knew this was going to be very physically demanding."

Even with all of their personal commitments to exercise and healthy lifestyles they said that few physical events in their lives have been as challenging as this.

"I've done a lot of different events," Dan said. "I've been in races in Syracuse and other fund-raisers. But the most I've ever run is 15K. This was a real challenge. I have to give a lot of credit to the people who run the marathon. I have one foot that is still swollen, but the muscles are getting better. At the end of the day part of the reason for doing this was the challenge."

Marie said one of the best aspects of the race was having a team to help keep each other going.

"Every mile it seemed to get longer and longer," she said. "It is the hardest thing I've ever done. But no one wanted to quit and no one wanted to be the one who quit and that kept us all going."

Even as the grueling miles wore on, there was still the excitement of all the sights and sounds of Boston.

"There were people to cheer us on," Mary said. "There were a lot of rest stops with music and food and water and people cheering. And going through Boston was fun, going by Fenway Park was great."

But there were also personal motivations.

Everyone on the team has had their lives touched by cancer, from friends to family to co-workers.

"We lost my mother in May," Dan said. "So in part we were walking in memory of her. I have also had some colleagues from the faculty at work that I was walking in support of. It was a good feeling to know that we were supporting them and that we were there as a family."

Finishing the walk in 9 hours the Nellenbacks raised $7,000 contributing to the nearly $5 million dollars total that were raised that day through donations and sponsorship.

"We have to thank everybody locally that sponsored us," Mary said. "The faculty at West Middle School and all of our friends and family. Cancer is something that can make you feel helpless but this is something we can all do to help."

While their muscles are still sore and aching the Nellenbacks are already planning their trip for next year.

"I think I'll try to train a little more," Dan said. "And I think we'll try to get more of our family involved. We're in good health and this is something we can do to help to a very worthwhile cause. We'll definitely do it again."

For more information on next year's walk or on making a contribution to the Jimmy Fund visit www.jimmyfund.org