For the 19th consecutive year, the USATF-certified Camy 5K Run & David 5K Walk will once again provide a competitive road race, a fun walk, family atmosphere, and terrific raffles. The run/walk will be held on Saturday, November 9, at the Walpole Italian-American Club, located on 109 Stone St. in Walpole.
Race director Paul Clerici appreciates what this event has become. “We started this race to raise money for Norwood Hospital, Brigham & Women’s, and Dana-Farber to help give back to the hospitals where my grandfather and one of my older brothers received care,” he said of his grandfather, Camilio “Camy” Clerici, and brother, David Clerici, who passed away nine months apart from each other in 2000. “When my grandfather died of cancer and my brother died of medical complications after becoming cancer-free, we wanted to turn the sad occasions into something positive. I’m so proud what this race has turned into over the years.”
In addition to Brigham & Women’s, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Norwood Hospital, money raised has also been donated to the Coach Bill Squires “Run Smart” Fund that provides assistance to economically-challenged student-athletes, the Matty Eappen Foundation to prevent abusive child head trauma, the Norwood Hospital Oncology/Hematology Clinic/Lab, One Fund Boston, Norwood Hospital Cancer Center at Foxboro’s oncology department (including the purchase of a blanket warmer unit for chemotherapy patients and some building improvements), Walpole Community Food Pantry, Walpole Italian-American Club (including the purchase of defibrillators), Walpole Italian-American Society, and others.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to donate to so many organizations,” he noted. “The runners, walkers, volunteers, and businesses in and around Walpole have been so generous with their time and money and donations. For the raffles, for instance, we get lots of restaurant gift certificates, wine, books, DVDs, gifts, a beautiful flower arrangement, and a lot of sports-related items autographed by famous athletes like Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins, four-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers, and Olympic gold-medalists Frank Shorter and Joan Benoit Samuelson. It’s very heartwarming.”
The Camy 5K Run is at 10 a.m., the David 5K Walk at 9:50 a.m., and the free Rosina Fun Run of 50 yards for kids 11 and under at 9:30 a.m. Registration is a $20 non-refundable fee ($15 for 16 & under, 70 & older) postmarked by Monday, November 4; $25 non-refundable fee for all ages on race day from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Free tee-shirts will be given to the first 100 run/walk entrants. There will be over 60 awards. Food and water will be available. There are also two huge raffles (must be present to win): a free runner/walker raffle; and a separate ticket-purchase raffle.
For more information, visit http://paulclerici.com/camydavid5k, call (508-668-2249), or e-mail camydavid5k@yahoo.com. Register either online (www.tiny.cc/CamyRun2019) or by mail (SASE or completed form to Camy 5K, c/o Paul Clerici, P.O. Box 99, South Walpole, MA 02071).
