‘Running of the Leprechauns’ March 15th to Benefit Boston Children’s Hospital

Foundation of Friends of Medford will be producing RUNNING OF THE LEPRECHAUNS a 5k race/walk followed by a festive St. Patrick’s Day Party on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the Medford Elks, 19 Washington Street, Medford, MA. This fun community event is being held to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. Your participation by running, walking, cheering or attending the party will make this event a huge success! Is féidir grá agus cairdeas réimeas -May love and Friendship Reign!

In November 2013, Kelly Sheehan Catallo reached out to another Medford native, Kelly Granara South, for assistance in putting together a road race fundraiser to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. What the recently reconnected childhood friends would discover is that they were two moms with one mission. Both have children under the care of Boston Children’s Hospital. Both women will relay different personal stories, but both are underlined with the compassion of the people, the high level of care and confidence, specialists helping the children to cope with the day to day and the long road ahead as well as access to cutting edge research and new discoveries at Boston Children’s Hospital bringing peace and health to their children and their families.

The passion of these two moms is the fuel that is catapulting this event to success. Catallo re-tells her moment of inspiration, “October 2013, on the way to the hospital for treatment, my 10 year old son asked me “Do you ever wonder why we are all here?”, like any mother, I wanted to cry. I decided instead to act and give meaning to the answer.”

In its inaugural year, RUNNING OF THE LEPRECHAUNS is a day long event with something for everyone. At the blow of the bagpipe, the 5k race/walk will take off at 10:30 am. Most will be in costume and 100‘s will line the route and cheer the runners/walkers on. The race will start at Medford Elks, 19 Washington Street, turn right on Park St, right on Riverside Avenue, right onto George P Hassett Drive, take a left onto Salem Street into Historic Medford Square at City Hall, take a right onto Forest Street, left onto Lawrence Road, left onto Governors Avenue, left onto High Street back through Medford Square, cross over to Clippership Drive, run along the Mystic River take a right onto Riverside Ave, left onto Park St and a left onto Washington St. First man and first woman to cross the finish line at the Medford Elks will receive $100 cash and trophy! The race will be followed by a St. Patricks Day Party at the Medford Elks. There will be a cash bar & raffles. Brunch will be served at 12, live Irish Music by Mossie Coughlin & the Boston Irish, will fill the air and lively Irish Step Dancers will entertain.

Information about the event can be found on https://www.facebook.com/RunningOfTheLeprechauns. Registration for the race/walk is $30 and can be completed online at http://www.active.com/medford-ma/running/distance-running-races/running-of-the-leprechauns-2014 and includes a tshirt and gift bag for the first 300 as well as the party! You can make a donation, purchase a party only ticket ($25) or register for the race and at www.runningoftheleprechauns.eventbrite.com. You can register, purchase party tickets, donate an item for the raffle, buy raffle tickets or inquire about sponsorship opportunities at Cosmopolitan Real Estate 23 Salem Street, Medford Sq. 339-221-5412 or by directly contacting Kelly Sheehan Catallo at kelly@teamcre.com 781-844-5457 or Kelly Granara South southkelly12@yahoo.com 617-771-6334.

Foundation of Friends is a social service organization formed by Kelly Sheehan Catallo in 2013 after 20 years of volunteer community fundraising. The mission of Foundation of Friends is to bring people of the community together to create FUNdraising events within the community.  Bringing fun and culture to all while raising funds for organizations that support and improve the quality of life in the community.  When friends come together, anything is possible! “It’s what I can do, it’s why I’m here.”

– Submitted by Kelly Catallo