18 January, 2011
While hundreds of Hopkinton middle and high school students gathered together at the Middle School to join in a day of service for Martin Luther King Day, others travelled offsite to give back. Six members of the Hopkinton Boys High School Winter Track Team, Brendan and Kyle Driscoll, Tim Bolick, Nick Giordano, Evan Rosen and Josh Batte, travelled into Boston to help inspire the homeless in a running program with Back on My Feet.
Founded in Philadelphia in 2007, the Boston chapter of Back on My Feet was launched on May 24, 2010. The non-profit organization promotes self-sufficiency for homeless people by engaging them in running to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. According to their website www.backonmyfeet.org, the group does not provide food or shelter, but “instead provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership.”
The boys did not show up for the run empty-handed. In addition to running, they were able to raise $300 in cash despite having their planned fundraiser snowed out. One donation came from the Policeman’s Association and the rest from other individual donations. They had bags of sweatshirts and other running attire and were able to secure five pairs of new running shoes, four donated by PR Running of Westborough, and another by the Hopkinton Freshman Boys Basketball team.
Prior to beginning their run from the corner of the Boston Common near the Theater District to the Prudential Center, the boys were introduced and welcomed as a community of runners.
The group had a regular routine that the boys participated in and included answering a question of the day. In recognition of the day, the question posed was, “What would you ask Martin Luther King if you had the chance?”
“It was an excellent ice breaker and very appropriate for the day, “said Driscoll.
