Needham Youth Services Presents November RAY of Hope Recipient

November 2014 Recipient – Patrick Caron

Patrick is a senior at Needham High School; he is an avid runner and all-around athlete. He competes in Varsity Cross-Country and Track and Field at the High School and spends much of his free time running and exploring Needham and the surrounding towns.

A little over a year ago, Patrick discovered some abandoned train tracks on his daily run, and after traversing down them for several miles, he was instantly intrigued. Quickly, he found out about the local Bay Colony Rail Trail Association and their efforts to transform the old part of the MBTA line into a walking, running, and biking path weaving through the towns of Needham, Dover, and Medfield. Last fall, winter, and early spring, Patrick spent countless hours putting together a project on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter to raise the remaining $15,000 needed to begin work on the trail. After interviewing several members of the association, attending monthly meetings, and filming scenes out on the trail, Patrick launched the Kickstarter project in the spring of 2014, and it was a huge success! By the end of the campaign, 229 people from all over the state (and country!) had donated a whopping total of $20,021, far surpassing the original goal. Joan Kelley, who nominated Patrick, describes him as a mature and hard working individual.

Recently, Patrick has created a club at Needham High School that will be a key part of the Trail Stewardship Program, a group of volunteers who will keep the trail clean and usable.

Watch the ceremony honoring Patrick at: http://youtu.be/CJKlqf5iRRg

For more information please visit www.needhamma.gov/youth/ray