Hi Everyone:
I am happy to report that Marathon #13 (and my 6th consecutive Boston Marathon) will be run for the benefit of two local charities:
(1) the Natick Service Council's "Healthy Pantry Initiative" which will deliver locally-grown food from the Natick Community Organic Farm to our neighbors most in need of healthy food options; and,
(2) the Natick Veterans Council's initiative to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial to Natick (June 9-12).
Donate on this page to contribute to the healthy pantry initiative.
You can learn more about the Moving Wall Memorial and donate toward this worthy cause here:
http://www.movingwallnatick.org/
For the past 5 years, I have dedicated many hundreds of miles running to help end homelessness and hunger. These charities represent the best of both worlds for me, with the added bonus of knowing that my activity will directly benefit my neighbors here in Natick.
Indeed, many of today's homeless are former members of our armed forces, including veterans of Vietnam. The Moving Wall Memorial has proven to be an emotional and educational experience for veterans, their families and friends, and school children across the country. We're honored to host this important tribute this summer.
THANK YOU to my recent and former donors and to those sharing your words of support along this incredible journey. Your moral support and financial generosity have been a blessing for me and for the many homeless and hungry who've benefited from the more than $20,000 we've raised over the past 5 years.
My running goal this year is to merely survive another 26.2 miles - I haven't begun training in earnest until February 11th - a 9.5 week training regimen will only take me so far, but my goal is to run the event in about 4 hours again, injury free!
If you'd like to follow my marginally sufficient training regimen online, please visit my blog at: http://running4it.blogspot.com/.
Until May 31st, you can make a secure, online donation to the Natick Service Council directly on this site, or you can mail a personal check, made out to "The Natick Service Council" to me directly. Please add "Paul Joseph 2011 Boston Marathon" in the NOTE of your check. You can mail your check to:
Paul Joseph
66 School Street Extension
Natick, MA 01760
To make an online donation to the Moving Wall, please click on the following link and when making your online donation (via PayPal), please click on the link that says "Boston Marathon runner name, if any" and type my name in the text box that pops-up. You may also send a check to my home address, made out to: Moving Wall Natick. Please add "Paul Joseph, 2011 Boston Marathon" to the memo.
http://www.movingwallnatick.org/donations.html
Also, please remember to do what you can, whenever you can, to help someone who is hungry or homeless, and remember to thank our veterans and their families for sacrificing so much to protect our way of life.
Thank you!