Community invited to ‘last mile’ marathon event

Next Thursday, May 23, walkers and runners of all ability levels are invited to the George King Track at Canton High School for the “Last Mile,” a charity event dedicated to all of those affected by the tragic events in Boston on Marathon Monday.

CHS George King Track

Billed as a “no-frills” affair, the event will feature six one-mile heats, beginning with walkers at 3:35 p.m. and ending with competitive runners (sub six minutes) at 5 p.m. There will also be heats for milers who average 10-15 minutes, eight to 10 minutes, and six to eight minutes, as well as one open heat. The entry fee is a suggested donation of $5 per participant.

Organized by CHS seniors Joe Sabatino and Mike Rota under the guidance of CHS staff member and former track coach Chris Elgar, the event is both a fundraiser for the One Fund Boston and a symbolic nod to the thousands of marathoners who were unable to cross the finish line as a result of the bombings.

“The idea came from Mr. Elgar and it is centered around the idea that [many of] those who did not get to finish the marathon, like myself, only had a mile left until completion,” explained Sabatino, a four-year track team member who skipped his last spring season to train for the historic race.

Running as a “bandit,” or unregistered participant, Sabatino had made it all the way to the border of Brookline and Boston before he was stopped by police officers — just short of the 25^th mile marker. Cold and exhausted, he spent the next hour searching for his parents, Chris and Stephanie, who had been waiting at the finish line when the two bombs exploded.

Elgar, himself an avid runner, had also been on the marathon route that day, joining a former CHS student-athlete for the last 10 miles of his first-ever Boston Marathon. He had actually finished his run and was celebrating in an office building “quite near the finish line” when the bombs went off, unleashing a chaotic and bloody scene on the streets below.

“When the attacks occurred, we experienced the same rush to contact as many people as we could to confirm that we were safe and that others we knew that day who were there were also safe,” recalled Elgar. “Fortunately, everybody I know connected with the marathon on that day was safe, including Joe Sabatino and [CHS teacher] Sharon Bolduc.”

Elgar said the idea for the running event was inspired by the flood of concerned emails and voicemails he received in the days following the marathon, not only from the running community but from the Canton community at large.

“I couldn’t stop thinking that something needed to be done,” he said.

Elgar ultimately enlisted Rota and Sabatino as the event’s chief organizers, noting that they were the “obvious choices” due to their strong leadership skills and commitment to the cause.

“They have taken on the roles of student organizers and transformed an informal idea that ultimately became the ‘Last Mile’ to support the One Fund Boston,” Elgar said. “Mike and Joe are both avid distance runners who are respected fixtures on the CHS track teams. They have really made every effort to take an idea that was informal in nature and created an event that I think will be a success and done professionally while still being laid-back in format.”

Elgar said the phrase “last mile” was coined by a CHS student council member and he thought it would make the perfect name for a Boston Marathon fundraiser. It was also the name of a similar event held late last month at Clark University in Worcester.

Next week’s Last Mile race in Canton is not a school-sponsored event, although it does have the backing of various school leaders, including CHS Principal Derek Folan, Hansen Principal Peter Boucher, and CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson.

Fittingly, the race will also take place on the same day that thousands of Canton Public School students and staff members wear “Boston Strong” t-shirts as a show of solidarity in honor of the marathon victims. The sale of the t-shirts was initiated by a group of CHS students and was later embraced by the entire district as an official fundraiser, ultimately netting between $25,000 and $30,000 for the One Fund, according to a recent update provided by Superintendent Jeff Granatino.

As for the upcoming Last Mile fundraiser, organizers are envisioning a “low-key” event without any of the trappings of a typical charity race, such as post-race awards or entertainment.

“The goal is to have a no-frills opportunity to donate $5 to walk, jog, or race a mile,” explained Elgar. “We don’t want any costs that will diminish the idea that $5 collected will be $5 sent directly to the One Fund.”

Asked about a fundraising goal, Sabatino said they do not have a specific number in mind, although “any and all donations are gratefully welcomed and much appreciated.”

“Everyone in the community is welcome and is encouraged to come to the event,” he said. “We want to get as many people and raise as much money as we possibly can.”

For more information on the Last Mile fundraiser, contact Sabatino at joesab2146@aol.com or Rota at mrota57@hotmail.com.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=20580

Posted by Jay Turner on May 16 2013. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.