Twenty-four Southborough residents will don a Boston Marathon bib on Monday to run for themselves and for causes they hold dear. Every runner has a story, and from now until marathon day, I’ll feature as many of those stories as I can on the blog.
Today we meet Jennifer Martin who is running on behalf of the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission. Here’s Jennifer’s story.
I am excited to be running the Boston Marathon again this April and have a great opportunity to fundraise for a charity that is personally meaningful to me. One of my primary criteria was to select an organization that helps families and individuals that are “close to home” here in Southborough.
This year I am running for the Friends of Southborough Youth Commission, Inc., better known as “Friends.” Friends is a local charity that supports Southborough families with financial needs that are not covered by the Town budget and policy, such as camperships to needy children, funds for heating oil or food to needy families and Christmas gifts. Funds raised in support of my marathon run will go to summer camp scholarships for needy children from Southborough.
In 2006, Friends was able to provide 52 summer camperships but last year, in 2012, Friends had to cancel their own summer program for Trottier Middle School students due to dramatically reduced funding and could only fund 33 camperships. Annual funds for camp scholarships have gone from $9600 in FY’08 to $2200 last year.
My goal is to raise $2,500 dollars which will be used to send as many of our local children in need to summer camp programs in 2013. I am hopeful that you will consider helping me reach this goal – no amount is too big or too small!
I understand that there are many great organizations that are personally meaningful and supported by my friends and family. I also greatly appreciate well wishes and cheering along the route to Boston!
If you’d like to help Jen help the Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission, visit her donation page.
[If you’re running the Boston Marathon and would like to have your story featured, drop me a line at mysouthborough@gmail.com]
