ICYMI: Brookline Local Combats Addiction Through Running

June 15

Brookline, MA – A local running club is making strides to help former substance abusers maintain healthy habits while discovering their full potential.

The Boston Bulldogs, the brainchild of Brookline clinical social worker Mike Ferullo, welcomes recovering addicts, as well as their families, friends and supporters, to its bi-weekly runs.

Ferullo told Patch he was inspired to establish the non-profit club during his time volunteering at the Pine Street Inn, a Boston detox facility, where he would go on runs with those in recovery every Saturday.

"I started to expand it, not just to people in the program, but to the greater Boston area," Ferullo said. "Eventually we offered it to people who have been impacted by addiction - not just people in recovery."

Ferullo himself sought treatment for his own addiction 40 years ago; he turned to running as an outlet as he worked to maintain his sobriety.

"Running played a significant role in helping me stay clean and introducing me to positive people," he said. "It helped initially with starting a new life because when you get off of drugs you have to stay away from those friends and that environment."

This idea of promoting wellness through community is the crux of the Boston Bulldogs' mission. Ferullo said there is a certain level of anonymity when the runners meet every Thursday and Saturday, but they are bound by their desire to stay healthy.

"The feedback has been phenomenal, the energy is so positive - people go and have a good time," Ferullo said. "The relationships are sustaining and uplifting."

Ferullo started the club last fall, and it held its inaugural 5K Run for Recovery on May 22 in memory of those who have lost their lives to addiction.

The event was attended by more than 400 runners, families, friends, sponsors and volunteers, according to a press release.

In the release, Boston Bulldogs member Mary McManus described the 5K as, "A day of celebration, of wellness, of health, healing, hope, recovery, grieving, friendship and the power of community."

The club meets twice a week, once on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 9 a.m., at the Cleveland Circle Starbucks before heading out to loop around the reservoir.

Ferullo said he believes outlets like the Boston Bulldogs that help former drug abusers remain clean can change the public perception on addiction.

"The community sees something like this and sees people who are helping themselves," he said. "I think that's putting a positive light on the stigma."

Photo courtesy of Brookline Department of Public Health