WORCESTER, Mass. - Hundreds of people gathered at Polar Park for the annual UMass Cancer Walk, which supports cancer research, treatment and clinical trials at UMass Chan Medical School.

The walk got underway at 10 a.m., with participants following a three-mile loop back to Polar Park. Prior to their start, a survivor lap was held inside the ballpark.

Among the crowd of people, many wore shirts honoring a friend or family member they were walking for.

A large group wore shirts reading "Ethan Strong,’" including his grandmother Sally Casey.

She said Ethan is now in remission after being treated for a brain tumor, and that he’s a fighter.

“He was diagnosed at 7 years old, I’ve never seen a stronger kid in my whole life,” Casey said. “What he went through, he was brave through the whole thing and I’m just thankful for the care he was given. He was given wonderful care by UMass and Dana Farber, it just meant the world to me.”

Similar to previous years, the walk was superhero-themed, a nod to patients, health care providers, family members, researchers, sponsors and volunteers.

According to UMass Chan, the walk dates back to 1994, when Dottie and Dan Manning Sr. lost their son Danny to cancer. Two years later, Dan lost his battle.

Dottie and a family friend, Bob Haynes, decided to launch a fundraising event to fight cancer, with the first walk happening in 1999.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to reflect UMass Chan's background information on the walk.