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Local Men Running for Children's Hospital CharityBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
11:52PM / Thursday, April 02, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — James Holmes is facing his first marathon with a bit of trepidiation. It doesn't help that its the oldest and most revered: the 26-mile Boston Marathon.
The Conte Middle School teacher doesn't expect to win, but does plan to finish. That's because he's running for something very special — a fund that helps ailing children and their families and in memory of young Caleb Jacobbe, who succumbed to cancer three years ago.
It was because of the Jacobbe family that Holmes and Mark Moulton will be pounding the pavement on the streets of Boston with 22,000 others this April 20. This will be Moulton's second time running the marathon for Miles for Miracles, a Children's Hospital fund that offers activities, supplies and support for families of sick children.
Moulton, a friend of John Jacobbe, stood proxy at Caleb's christening and visited the then 7-year-old at Children's Hospital in 2005.
"What the hospital was able to do for him ...," said Moulton. "The comfort they were giving him and family members; it's a good place to be if you have to be there."
Holmes is a colleague and a friend of John Jacobbe. They're also running for Tilly Brule of Florida who spent much of her childhood being treated for kidney disease at Children's until receiving a kidney from her mother in 2005; and for Mitchell Dubuc of Adams, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and has been treated at Children's.
They won't be running alone; the Miles for Miracles team numbers 175 this year. While the members hail from around the country, most have connections to New England, Boston or Children's Hospital, said Moulton. Last year, the team (which included former Gov. Jane W. Swift of Williamstown and Rob Abel) raised more than $1.4 million. It's already halfway to this year's goal of $1.6 million.
Moulton, who raised more than $15,000 last year, and Holmes are lining up pledges before their run. The money they raise will be donated into the fund in names of the families they've chosen.
Several fundraisers are being held to help them out, including the infamous annual Cornhole Tournament held this past weekend and benefit on Saturday for the second year at the Hot Dog Ranch. The restaurant on State Street will donate 10 percent of its profits for the day to charity.
"Last year, I did a lot fundraising letters, I was all over the place and I did real well," said Moulton. "I didn't want to hit all the same people so we're trying to do it more with these fundraisers."
The day at the Hot Dog Ranch will include raffles for Red Sox tickets, a Chinese auction with lots of gift baskets for all and door prizes.
Some people aren't waiting for the fundraisers. Holmes was working out at Planet Fitness when another man learned what he was training for and just handed him money.
"It's been exciting, and it's been a really humbling experience," said Holmes, who puts his age as "mid-50s." "Some mornings when I get up I do feel my age."
Children's Hospital provides the training program, coaches and health consultants as well as reception area, transportation in Boston. Charities are allowed waivers for their team runners so neither Moulton nor Holmes had to pass time trials to get in.
Nevertheless, they've been training hard in preparation for the race.
"I've been hurt this year and I'm not in the shape I'd like," said Moulton, who runs regularly but not for marathons. "But I look at what goes on down there [at the hospital] and look at the kids and what they're suffering — four hours seems pretty easy."
Holmes said his daughter Allyson, who ran track at Drury High and Williams College, pushed him into the marathon, something he'd always wanted to do. It also brought him into contact with Tilly Brule, with whom he's developed "a great relationship"; found him new friends and strengthened bonds with old ones, including a friend who's been following him with her car faithfully each morning he runs to Bennington.
Moulton hopes to beat his personal best last year of 3 hours and 52 minutes; Holmes says, "all I want to do is finish."
Moulton and Holmes can be sponsored online here. |
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