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Gail Huff, Team Hoyt and Gene Lavanchy team up for the HMEA Independence 5K Walk/Run
By Staff reports
Thu Apr 16, 2009, 02:13 PM EDT

North Attleborough - The Boston Red Sox will bring both the 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies to Franklin on May 17 and displayed at the HMEA Independence 5K Walk and Run, a unique fundraiser benefiting children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Gail Huff from NewsCenter 5 will host the event. She will be joined by her husband Sen. Scott Brown who is also an experienced triathlete and member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

Gene Lavanchy from Fox News TV and Rick and Dick Hoyt, the famous father/son marathon and triathlon team from Massachusetts who have overcome insurmountable obstacles in their lives will also be participating. Registration for the 5K Walk and the 5K Race starts bat 10 a.m. and they start simultaneously at 11 a.m. on n Constitution Blvd in Franklin, with the firing of a 1776 Black Powder Canon and three Blunder Buss muskets by the Pawtuxet Rangers.

Registrations are now being accepted for both the 5K Race and the 5K Walk through the HMEA web site www.hmea.org. This year the Walker participants will receive a significant boost as walking teams can register on-line through www.hmea.org to create their own fundraising page and email it to family and friends. Each fundraising participant receives a free tee shirt, a hamburg/hot dog/pizza meal and a special gift. Opening ceremonies will include a song by American Idol 2006 late round finalist Ayla Brown, a special tribute to veterans by the Franklin Police Honor Guard.

The Children’s Services Division of HMEA and The Franklin Boston Sports Club have teamed up again to provide many children’s activities and games. Kids 10 and under who participate in the activities receive a free raffle ticket good for the Kids raffle table.

The Grand raffle has fantastic prizes including accommodations for two in Central Florida, Cancun, Newport and New Hampshire, a Bose Wave Music System, digital camera, color laser jet printer, IPod, Boston Red Sox tickets, a Garmin GPS a $500 Gift certificate to Cardi’s Furniture store, a five burner grill with rotisserie from the Mansfield Home Depot, and more.

Early community champions helping to sponsor the event in support of the children with autism and adults with developmental disabilities supported by HMEA are industry giants AAA-Southern New England, EMC, Home Depot, UPS, JACO Mobility Corp., Ducharme Estates, WMRC Radio, Wal* Mart, Roche Bros, Dean College /Sodexho, Shaw’s Supermarkets, ADP and many more.

The funds raised at this special event will benefit over 2400 children and adults with developmental disabilities in 110 towns from Attleboro to Littleton and from Boston to Worcester. In keeping with the family fun focus there will be a free picnic, face painting, activities for kids. The 5K racecourse is a USATF certified 5K and Yankee Timing will provide state of the art race results. There will be tee shirts with all sponsors printed on them given to everyone who participates. All runners receive special participant packs. Trophies will be given for first place in all divisions and medals to 2nd and 3rd place finishers. In addition to the tee shirts, special gifts will be given to all walkers who raise funds and finish the walk route, which is contained within the park. A growing number of volunteers will provide the true brick and mortar for a successful event.

HMEA is a non-profit agency supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in central and eastern Mass. HMEA’s 650 professional, dedicated and caring staff provide a wide variety of services including educational, vocational, and residential supports. Those interested in sponsoring, participating, or attending the event, are encouraged to contact Linda Conley at 508-298-1107 Doug MacPherson x1105 or visit the web site at www.hmea.org to register on line or download more information on the event.