PEABODY — With less than a week to go before Marathon Monday, the Peabody Police Department’s Cops for Kids with Cancer 2022 Boston Marathon team is making one final fundraising push.
The team hopes to reach its goal of $50,000 ($10,000 for each of its five members) Wednesday, April 13 with what promises to be a night of family fun at In the Game Peabody on Lowell Street.
The event, which will be held from 5-8 p.m., includes appetizers, a cash bar, several raffles and two silent auction grand prize packages. The cost is $25 per person or $50 per family. For those unable to attend, donations may be made online on the team’s website, https://copsforkidswithcancer.org/peabody-pd-marathon-team-2022/.
This year’s team includes Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr., Police Chief Thomas Griffin, Police Sergeant James Harkins, Firefighter Michael Coleman and retired National Grid Foreman Raymond Brady.
Griffin is hoping the third time will prove to be the charm. He had planned to run in 2020, only to be shut out when the race was canceled due to COVID-19. In its place, Boston Athletic Association (BAA) race organizers conducted a virtual race in the fall, which Griffin could not run because he was unable to re-train for the race. He then planned to run the 2021, but once again came up empty when he backed out because his son’s wedding was scheduled for the day before the race.
“I just didn’t really have the time to train for it and I wasn’t as interested in doing it virtually in 2020,” Griffin said. “Then, my son got married so I couldn’t run in 2021, so I’m thrilled to have had the chance to run in 2022 for such a good cause. I went into the race knowing that we were raising money for a great cause, so my goal from the beginning to finish.
“Training has gone very well and I know it will be an honor to run with the guys on my team. We’ve all trained hard and we are hoping that people will support us in this wonderful cause to help kids with pediatric cancer. The department has been committed to this for a while now, so I am thrilled to be able to join in this effort for such an important cause.”
Bettencourt said that while his training started late, he is grateful to Peabody High and Boston College track legend Fernando Braz for coming up with a “wonderful” training regimen to prepare him for the 26.2 mile endurance test.
“I’ve been very lucky to be able to follow Fernando’s plan,” Bettencourt said. “It’s a complete training program from workouts to running to diet. Thanks to him, I feel that I am getting stronger every week. It’s been hard, as I feel it in my legs and back after every workout, but I do feel healthier and stronger, so I am so grateful to him.”
This year’s marathon – the 126th in its history – will be held on Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 18. The race is limited to 30,000 runners.
Like Griffin, Bettencourt, who said he has lost 25 pounds since starting his training, said his goals are simple – just finish the race.
“I’m hoping to run a 12-minute mile pace, but I honestly have no idea or goals about a finish time,” he said. “I have no expectations other than to finish the race and raise as much money as we can for Cops for Kids with Cancer, which is the ultimate goal at the end of the day. We have put together a great team with Tom, James, Michael and Raymond, and it’s an honor to run with them.”
