Walpole’s Justin Doo wins Humanitarian Award

Walpole's Justin Doo, a graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School, has been awarded the Corey C. Griffin Humanitarian Award by Boston Children's Hospital. Doo's decade-long mission to drive awareness and funds to the cause of moyamoya disease was the catalyst for his prestigious award.

Last year's winner of the Humanitarian Award was Peter Frates, co-founder of the "Ice Bucket Challenge."

"After year of suffering with intense migraines, Justin Doo, a fun-loving seven year old, was diagnosed with moyamoya disease in 2007," reads the program of the 2017 Champions for Children's gala. "Moyamoya is a rare but serious disease in which the vessels that supply blood to the brain narrow, reducing the flow of oxygen-rich blood and increasing the risk for strokes. This disease affects only one in two million people.

"Just two weeks after his diagnosis, Justin underwent the only proven, long-term treatment for the disease: a surgery pioneered at Boston Children's Hospital that introduces a new source of blood vessel growth to the brain. The 8-hour surgery was a success. Though Justin will always have moyamoya disease, his symptoms are rare.

"Every year, Justin does two things: has an MRI at Boston Children's and hosts a fundraiser.

"After surgery, Justin decided to become an advocate for moyamoya awareness, hoping to raise vital funds for research that could one day lead to a cure for the little-understood disease. Since 2007 - more than half his life - Justin has lead the charge, hosting fundraisers infused with his fun-loving spirit. The Doos started small with a yard sale and a family team at the Eversource Walk for Boston Children's. Their efforts blossomed into backyard barbecues with dunk tanks, basketball tournaments and, most recently, a trail run. Justin has raised nearly $300,000 for Boston Children's.

"Justin, now 18, received one of the 2017 Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards in recognition of his volunteer work. The award included a $10,000 grant to The Moyamoya Foundation - and the opportunity to meet Robert Kraft, Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski.

"Justin's commitment to finding a cure hasn't ended now that he's a freshman at Loyola University Maryland. He's a biopsychology major and last summer he interned in Boston Children's neurology department.

"'As a survivor, I want other kids with moyamoya to know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel,' he says. 'You have moyamoya, but it doesn't have you.'"

Hometown Weekly, which has been fortunate to cover Doo's efforts over the years, joins his Walpole neighbors in congratulating him on his honor.