By Tim Chicirda, Bristol Pilot Editor

The Broad Street Run in Philadelphia is a battle of endurance, strength and perseverance. So too was latter portions of the life of Jim McDonald. Fittingly, this is why a fundraiser in the honor of this cancer victim is set to take place at the Broad Street Run this year.McDonald's life started in Bristol Borough. A student at St. Mark's, Jim, or "Jimbo," was a resident of Spruce Street.

As a boy scout, Jimbo was a drummer with the local VFW Drum and Bugle Corps. Jimbo's childhood in Bristol consisted of hanging in and around the Silver Lake Nature Center and swimming under the railroad near the Rohm and Haas facility.

In seventh grade, Jimbo met Johnny Condron and Jimmy McPeet. This three-some developed a bond that would last through elementary school, through Vietnam and into the later years of life.
Jim, Jim and John started a "buddy system," and agreed to all enlist in the Marines for the Vietnam War.

According to McPeet, the Marines Corps would often give a promise that friends enlisting together would stay together in the services. For these three men, it was unknown that this only meant boot camp, and while over in Vietnam, the three of the them were split and served their countries in different ways.

Jimbo was an engineer in the southern portion of South Vietnam. According to McPeet, this was a surprise.

"Jimmy was an engineer," said Jimbo's life-long pal. "How? I don't know. He had the shakiest hands I know."

For Jimbo and all of the people that surrounded him, making the best out of a horrible situation over in Vietnam was the only way to survive it. Jimbo and company would lead parties and drinking adventures on the days and nights at the other side of the globe.

According to widow Linda, Jimbo was never one to complain. He would always say, "that is wasn't as horrible as everyone says," although he would complain a bit.

"He always talked about the 13 months he slept with the same blanket without being cleaned," said Linda.

Jimbo returned from the war and started to live his life as a father, husband and friend.
Then in March of 2005, while out to dinner with his family, Jimbo began to feel very ill. After eating, Jimbo became uncontrollably sick and began vomiting outside of the restaurant.
Though Jimbo recovered well from this Lymphoma, it was a ominous sign of things to come.
In June of 2006, Jimbo became sick again.

"His voice started squeaking like Elmo," said Linda, in reference to the cancerous tumor that was found on his voice box.

This tragedy led to more, as the cancer spread to Jimbo's brain and bones, but according to Linda, he remained very "optimistic," and "never complained ...ever!"

One day, Jimbo began to have complications breathing. Two days later, on Feb. 29 of this year, Jimbo passed away.

"I couldn't give you a bad word about Jimmy," said friend Jim McPeet. "He was the nicest guy in the world and my best friend."

Now, "Jimbo's Squad" is ready to represent themselves at the Broad Street Run, the nation's largest 10-mile contest.

In an attempt to raise money for cancer research, a group of runners are in place to help try and raise their goal of $20,000.

To find out more about the team of runners or to join, go to www.JimbosSquad.org.