Meet 2025 Boston Haunted Walk Co-Chairs: Dara 'DJ' and Her Parents, Larissa and Derek

For DJ and her parents, Derek and Larissa, this year’s Boston Haunted Walk isn’t just a fun family activity – it’s a full-circle moment.

DJ became a patient at Shriners Children’s Boston after a life-changing burn injury. Now, she and her parents are co-chairing the 2025 Boston Haunted Walk, using their story to inspire others and raise funds for fellow burn survivors.

DJ was just 9 years old when she decided to surprise her parents by making a pasta dinner while they were out shopping for a car. As she tried to strain the boiling water, the pot slipped – and hot water spilled across her legs, torso and foot. Her older sister quickly called 911, but her parents made it home even faster. Larissa, a nurse, jumped into action to cool DJ’s burns before the ambulance arrived. Within 24 hours, they were referred to Shriners Children’s Boston.

“I remember walking into Shriners Children’s Boston and realizing how lucky I was,” DJ said. “There were kids with burns that were harder to hide. I could wear loose dresses that covered my legs – but I knew not everyone had that option.”

From the very beginning, the team at Shriners Children’s Boston made DJ feel seen, safe and empowered. “I was nervous at first, but the nurses brought me gifts, distractions, and held my hand when I needed it,” she said. A dedicated gymnast before her injury, DJ feared she’d never return to the sport she loved – but her care team reassured her at every turn. “They told me I could get back to what I loved doing. That made me feel powerful.”

DJ’s follow-up care included frequent visits – every other day at first, then tapering off over time. But her connection to Shriners Children’s Boston never faded. When she was 14, inspired by her own experience as well as the stories of others, DJ launched her own advocacy platform: We All Have Scars. In addition to her interest in gymnastics, DJ had also begun participating in pageants. The name came from a realization during her first pageant: “I was scared to go on stage, but then I thought – so what? Maybe if people see my scars, they’ll feel empowered to do something with theirs. Everyone has scars – some physical, some mental.”

What started as a booth at a field hockey league quickly grew into something more. DJ’s father suggested a golf tournament. As a family of avid golfers, they came together to create the We All Have Scars Golf Tournament, which raises funds for Shriners Children’s Boston.

“It feels really empowering,” DJ said. “I like knowing I’m making a difference in someone’s life.”

For Larissa, watching DJ become an advocate has been both emotional and inspiring. “At first, I worried – kids can be cruel. But she never let that define her,” Larissa said. “She took something traumatic and turned it into a way to identify herself and help others. To see that kind of strength and vision at 14 – it just makes you so proud.”

Now, as co-chairs of the 2025 Boston Haunted Walk, DJ and her parents are bringing their energy, gratitude and passion to the community that helped them heal. “We want to show people that this place really changes lives,” said DJ. “When people ask, ‘Why Shriners?’ we tell them our story – and they get it.”

Larissa agrees: “Once you see what Shriners Children’s does – not just for patients, but for families – it’s impossible not to want to give back.”

For this family, the Boston Haunted Walk is more than a fundraiser – it’s a celebration of resilience, family and the power of giving back.