Record number participate in Run For the Hill of It

By Ed Mahon

The heat and humidity on Saturday didn’t make the day ideal for setting personal running records. But with over 1,2000 entries in the Run For the Hill of It’s five-mile race and one-mile fun walk, an attendance record was set for Run’s 17th year. The event, organized by the Friends of Erik Committee, raises needed funds for a family confronted with the severe illness of a child, while at the same time bringing the community together.

As volunteers worked to sign up runners, and as runners warmed up for the race, this year’s beneficiary, six-year-old blonde-haired and blue-eyed Sean Mahoney told jokes over the loudspeaker.

“Why’d the cookie go to the doctor?” he asked.

“Because he felt crumby,” he said, laughing.

After the race, Sean’s father, Bill, talked about how Sean told that same joke to a very straitlaced, serious oncologist, but Sean got him to crack up laughing.

Sean has, unfortunately, had many chances to make doctors laugh over the years. At six years old, he has spent more time in a hospital than some people do in a lifetime.

A rare soft tissue cancer cost Sean his left leg when he was two years old. Sean has had a total of 15 hospital admissions for a total of 57 nights away from home, not including the countless visits to doctors and clinics during this difficult period. After recovering from that sickness, he was afflicted with a form of secondary leukemia, which weakened his immune system, forcing him to spend nine months isolated from pretty much anyone outside his immediate family, except nurses and doctors. Fortunately, Sean has kept a positive attitude, telling jokes and stories and playing games, throughout the ordeals.

The money raised from the race will help the Mahoney family’s enormous out-of-pocket medical expenses, including their need for a new prosthesis every year, mounting medical expenses, as well as new crutches as Sean grows.

The Mahoneys said they were able to get through the difficult period thanks to the support from friends, family and some people they didn’t even know.

“We never knew what to ask for, but it seems like we always got it,” Bill said, adding that kind acts like cooking them dinner or mowing their lawn made a big difference.

Bill was pleasantly shocked that a record number came out for the Run. “Seeing all these people come out to support Sean, that was just great,” he said.

Bill said he and his family will help the Friends of Erik organize next year’s race.

“The entire community just did an excellent job of pulling it off. It ran smoothly,” said Bill.

Charlie McGeever, a 16-year member of the Friends of Erik, said, “I got here at 5:30 a.m. to help set up. And at that time, there’s nobody here. But to watch [the crowd] progress to a sea of people, it gives the family such a lift. The money’s important, but it’s almost secondary.”

Sean had a fun day. Since his birthday was last week, he was presented with a birthday cake, and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to him. He also, with the help of McGeever, got to fire the gun to start the race. Later in the day, he took over McGeever’s job of selecting the music. Sean’s brother, Patrick, drew the design for the t-shirts given to each runner.

After the race, some runners were rewarded with massages from professionals. The course is certified by the USATF.

Ross Martinson, 26, came in first with a time of 25:59. Deirdre Bill, 27, with a time of 30:29, placed first in the women’s division.

McNally’s tavern of Chestnut Hill provided the avenue for this action, helping to sponsor the Run For the Hill of It. A black tie dinner dance will be held on October 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Morris Arboretum, 100 Northwestern Avenue.

For more information, or to find out where you placed in the race, go to www.runforthehillofit.org.