SWAMPSCOTT — A local couple with personal ties to Shriners Children’s Boston hospital will co-host the hospital’s fourth annual Haunted Walk in October to raise money for the treatment of pediatric burn victims, reconstructive-surgery patients, and patients having surgeries to repair cleft lips.
At the age of 3, Swampscott resident Peter Rondeau sustained second- and third-degree scald burns over a third of his body. After two hospital transfers, he arrived at Shriners Children’s Boston. There, he received specialized burn care as a month-long patient.
Rondeau underwent skin-graft surgery and worked with the Shriners rehabilitation team to learn to walk again. After being discharged, Rondeau returned frequently for physical therapy and ongoing scar management until he left for college.
In the spring, Rondeau ran the Boston Marathon — a feat that he said would not have been possible without the help of Shriners. He and his fiancé, Stephanie McCarthy, whose aunt spent the bulk of her career working as a nurse for Shriners Children’s New England, decided to raise funds for the hospital that helped him recover through his childhood.
“I’ve been able to live a totally normal life, and who knows, if I’d gone to a different hospital, maybe I’d have some mobility restrictions and I wouldn’t have been able to do the things that I’ve been able to do so far. I’m really trying to give back to them. I’m trying to spread awareness for the great work that Shriners does,” Rondeau said.
Rondeau and McCarthy have already raised $6,700 of their $10,000 goal, which they hope to reach before the Haunted Walk. He said after three annual Haunted Walks, Shriners has raised roughly $248,000 of the hospital’s $380,000 goal.
“They (Shriners) provide treatment to patients regardless of their ability to pay. They operate solely on private donations, so events like the Boston Haunted Walk are hugely important. This goes directly to the funding of whatever medical expenses need to be covered for whatever array of patients,” Rondeau said.
The Haunted Walk will be held on Oct. 22 at 900 Washington St., Wellesley. Those who wish to donate to Rondeau and McCarthy’s Shriners campaign can do so by visiting bostonhauntedwalk.org/co-chairs/.
