Kids & Family
Sprint for Super Saturdays Raises $7,000 for Braintree Special Needs Program
The next major fundraiser for the Super Saturdays Program is the 13th annual golf tournament on June 27 at Braintree Municipal Golf Course.
The first annual Sprint for Super Saturdays 5K run/walk was a huge success, raising over $7,000 for Super Saturdays, a social recreation program for Braintree Public Schools special education students.
On May 6, 300 participants gathered under cloudy skies at for the race’s 9:30 a.m. start. Following a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by a cappella group Purely Vocals, runners and walkers set off from BHS in a 3.1 mile loop around Town, Granite, Franklin and Pond Streets.
Teddy Harrington, 23, of Braintree was the first place finisher with a time of 19:45. He was followed by Braintree residents Patrick Corcoran, 25, (22:03) and Mike Fleming, 40 (22:21).
The top female finishers were Kristina Macauley, 29, of Holbrook who completed the race with a time of 23:13, Sharon Bolduc, 49, of Randolph (23:25) and Kaitlyn McDonough, 27, of Braintree (23:54). Harrington and Macauley each
received $100 gift certificates courtesy of North Face at the .
Laura Shea, a special needs teacher from Quincy and race runner was inspired and motivated by the Super Saturdays students. “I was struggling to get up the hill on Pond Street but just kept thinking of those kids, saying I can do it for them,” she said.
Numerous local businesses sponsored the race, including $500 donors Kohl’s, Lizard Fashion, , , Disabled American Veterans, Lorenz Orthodontics, and Toyota Scion-Tufankjian Family. , Capital Waste Services and Braintree’s sponsored $250 mile markers.
Race coordinators Rich Ellis, Chelsea Brace and Julianne Quintiliani said volunteers turned out in force to help with the event. Bruce Lane served as the emcee, announcing runners as they crossed the finish line and keeping the atmosphere lively with music and announcements.
Students from the Super Saturdays Program and their families participated in the race and cheered on walkers and runners from water and fruit stations along the route.
All proceeds from Sprint for Super Saturdays will directly benefit the special needs enrichment program
which offers fun activities every Saturday afternoon in a safe and encouraging environment.
“Students work on their social skills and develop friendships while exploring new activities,” said Mary Ford Clark, the program’s coordinator.
Past events have included visits to the Big Apple Circus, Disney on Ice and Canobie Lake Park, swimming at The Weymouth Club and snow tubing at Nashoba Valley. Fundraisers like Sprint for Super Saturdays help offset the costs of the weekly excursions.
The next major fundraiser for the Super Saturdays Program is the 13th annual golf tournament on June 27 at . To donate, please mail a check to: Braintree Special Needs Recreation Program, 49 Oak Street, Braintree, MA 02184.
For more information about Super Saturdays, visit gpvillage.com/supersaturdays.
