Above: At least two familie in town will be joining Boston’s 4th annual Congenital Heart Walk. (Image from Facebook)
It’s the time of year when amateur athletes break out their running shoes to raise money and awareness for issues they care about. Here’s a roundup of some members of our community doing good and their causes you can support.
Two Southborough families are raising funds for a cause truly close to two walkers’ hearts:
Southborough girl marks fifth year since open heart surgery – Community Advocate
Stefanie Cappello of Southborough is proud of her daughter Celia, a seventh-grader at Trottier Middle School. In observance of the Go Red for Women campaign, Celia showed her support for healthy heart awareness by wearing red attire at school Feb. 6. She was born with a congenital heart defect that went undetected until age 8. Now five years after undergoing open heart surgery, Celia is an active 13-year-old student of various dance styles.
Her mother learned a valuable lesson after that eight-year ordeal.
“It’s important to trust your instincts,” Cappello said. “If you have a feeling there’s something that’s not right with your child, you need to investigate and do whatever it takes. Parents are their children’s advocates.” (read more)
Related Fundraiser:
According to the story Celia will lead “Celia’s Crew” in the fourth annual Congenital Heart Walk in Boston, scheduled for Saturday, April 25. The crew includes her mother Stefanie, father Chuck, and brother Chuckie, 9. Donations can be made online.
Congenital Heart Walk to kick off with Westborough benefit – Community Advocate
Kim Edgren, a Southborough native who now lives in North Grafton, attended a conference a few years ago and learned about the Congenital Heart Walk, a national fundraiser that began in several cities in 2010. As a congenital heart defect (CHD) survivor, she felt compelled to volunteer as committee chair of the first Boston walk in 2012. She has served as its chair each year since.
“Having survived CHD my whole life, I really wanted to give back to the community,” she said. “We need more awareness because a lot of people don’t know what CHD is. It’s the number one birth defect and it’s a lifelong illness.” (read more)
Related Fundraiser:
According to the story, Team Wee Care for Kimmie is holding a fundraising kickoff on Saturday, March 28, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Acacia at Indian Meadows in Westborough. Tickets are $60 per person and a table for eight is $450. For ticket information, email weecare1@aol.com.
The team is led by Kim’s mother, Dolores Edgren, who still lives in Southborough. (And in case you didn’t recognize the reference, the two ladies run Wee Care for Little People child care services, with two locations in town.) Donations to the team can be made online.
For some locals, running isn’t the means to raise funds, its the end. In support, a fundraiser will focus on a different kind of race:
Westborough Knights of Columbus to hold fundraiser for Unified Track – Community Advocate
Unified track is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences by joining people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Its goal is to break down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a fun way, bringing people together to develop friendship and understanding. In 2012 Westborough High School (WHS) and Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) teamed up to create a joint unified track team. . .
“I love working with these kids,” [a coach and ARHS teacher Zbysia] Giegucz said. “Watching them work together and develop confidence in themselves and form lifelong friendships is such a wonderful experience. I think I learn more from than they learn from me.”(read more)
Related Fundraiser:
According to the story, Westborough’s Knights of Columbus are holding a fundraiser for the team (and looking for more sponsors). A“Knight at the Race” fundraiser will run from 7 to 10 p.m. at the KOC, 17 Willow Street, Westborough. Entertainment over dinner includes betting on simulated horse races. Tickets cost $20 per person or $180 for a table of 10. (You can see more details in the story.)
For tickets or information, contact Zbysia Giegucz at knightsforut@gmail.com or 508-736-3897.
Every year, a flock of Southborough runners sign up for the Boston Marathon. This year, 19 are registered. It’s still more than a month away, but one runner is already trying to drum up support:
Southborough resident to raise $100k to run the Boston Marathon for One Mission – contributed
Brendon Giblin, a resident of Southborough, will once again run the Boston Marathon this year for One Mission, a national pediatric cancer foundation founded by two more Southborough residents, Ashley and Ari Haseotes. One Mission makes it easier on kids going through treatment by doing cool things like pimping out their hospital room, bringing celebrities and athletes like Rob Gronkowski to visit, hosting yoga and music classes, etc.
Brendon’s INCREDIBLE goal is to raise $100,000 before he hits the course on April 20, 2015.
Related Fundraiser:
You can learn more about One Mission here. To make a donation for Giblin’s One Mission team online, click here.
Updated (3/12/15 8:45 am): I was able to include Giblin’s fundraising information.
