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2nd Devin Race
Raises $5,000 |
By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
7/8/10
Runners from near and far were offered a unique course while raising money for a good cause. The second annual M.A.D. Scramble, a five-mile road race named for the late police Detective Michael A. Devin, took place July 1.The race, beginning and ending at Pierce Middle School, took participants on a winding, scenic route through town, including a trip around the newly renovated path at Turners Pond.
The event raised more than $5,000 for the Michael A. Devin Memorial Fund, which supports juvenile programs and offers a scholarship to a Milton High School student each year.
Nearly 200 runners participated, an increase over the 176 that participated in the inaugural event last year.
New Hampshire runner Tom Leger won the race with a time of 27:52. Finishing second and third respectively were Milton runners Jason Cakouros (28:15) and Justin Renz (29:27). Milton’s fastest woman was Rebecca Padera, whose time of 34:35 was good enough for 22nd overall and third among women.
Devin, a Milton police detective, died in a car accident in 2006. A 1967 graduate of Milton High, he served as a Marine in Vietnam. At the time of his death, he was the residency officer for the Milton public schools and also a deputy sheriff of Norfolk County.
His family started the Michael A. Devin Memorial Fund to help serve youths in need as he had.
Michael’s brother, Brian, is the race organizer. A longtime runner in town, he was one of the founders of the Milton Road Race, which this year saw more than 450 runners participate in the 33rd annual race.
Louise Devin, Brian’s wife, said the first fund-raiser for the memorial fund was a cruise on the Spirit of Boston. However, she said, that event did not catch on due to the pricing.
“We wanted to do something a little more folksy and local … something like a family event,” she said while discussing how the idea for the M.A.D Scramble originated.
She said the race this year went “as smooth as can be” and said the family hopes to keep building on the event next year.
“There was food for everyone. The sun was shining. It was really great. Everyone seemed to have a great time,” said Louise.
She praised Gib Gailius for serving as the event announcer.
“He is so great. He has six kids and volunteers at countless [Milton] events,” she said.
Waste Management and the Milton Police Department were the event’s gold sponsors. Waste Management donated $1,000 to the event.
John Henry, New England regional sales representative for Waste Management, is a Milton resident. Louise said he “did not hesitate” when approached to sponsor the race.
The Police Department controlled traffic along the challenging route.
“They were terrific,” she said.
Other sponsors included Fruit Center Marketplace, Curry College, Fallon Ambulance, Milton National Little League and Roy Chambers.
Visit www.madmemorialfund.org for more information about the memorial fund. |
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