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Community Corner

Milford Runners are Half-Marathon Ready

A newly formed team, based in Westborough, that includes several Milford runners is raising funds for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.

Cabiria (Cooky) Mazzuchelli launched an attack on two fronts: her battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and training for a half marathon in Providence on May 6. Mazzuchelli, along with 20 other novice runners, joined the newly formed Westborough Team in Training of the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society's (LLS).

Team in Training, a nationwide program, has a great track record of inspiring athletes to train for biking races, road races and triathlons; raise funds for the cause; and cross the finish line. Its mission is to "cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families." This year, the Westborough team hopes to raise $40,000. 

The Westborough team is made up of participants from Auburn, Clinton, Franklin, Hudson, Leominster, Milford, North Attleboro, Princeton, Shrewsbury, Waltham, Westborough and West Boylston. Three runners are training for the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon on June 3. The other 18 runners are training for the Cox Providence Rhode Races (half marathon) in Providence.

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Mazzuchelli's sister Pam and brother-in-law Steve also joined the team. Steve, a first-time runner, said, "I am running for Cooky."

Another local runner, Maria Rydelek from Shrewsbury, is running for her mother who died from pancreatic cancer in 2008.

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Between now and the races, the Westborough team will meet every Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Boroughs JCC. They review running techniques, share motivational stories and head out for training runs.

Stephanie Deschaine from Ashland is the team's coach. A veteran of 28 marathons, she told Westborough Patch, "Being involved with LLS has changed my life... there is so much love and dedication among this group." For the Feb. 18 meeting—the second time the group met—Deschaine dressed up for Mardi Gras, the theme of the session.  

Jillian Hardy of Foxborough is mentoring the entire Westborough team. She joined the LLS last February when she ran the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Diego and another in Dublin, Ireland. Hardy said, "I'm really excited to mentor... I have (had) two family members who have died form blood cancer. The research (funded by LLS) could potentially help me and my family."

Westborough's Ed Sherr was the driving force behind the creation of the Westborough team. Last year he ran the Boston Marathon with the Team in Training based in Wellesley. He was so inspired by the experience that in June 2011, Sherr joined the board of the LLS's local chapter.

Sherr is currently mentoring several members of the Wellesley team, which is training for the Boston Marathon. One of his star runners is Susan Smith of Westborough, who ran

Sherr had an idea that a LLS team in Westborough would draw runners for whom Wellesley was too far to travel on a weekly basis. Sherr said, "The Westborough community outreach has been amazing with assistance from the president of the Borough's JCC, Allen Edinburg, to the people of PR Running, and our surrounding neighbors."

Sherr continues, "Everyone here is running for a particular reason. It's all about the mission." He said that when the Westborough team was formed, the LLS expected about 8 people to join. He said that the size of the group—21— is phenomenal.

Sherr, who lost a close friend to leukemia, said, "I wear a purple band on my wrist which reminds me every day (of) the ultimate goal of Team in Training along with the LLS mission and what the TEAM stands for: Train, Endure, Achieve, Matter."

To donate to the Westborough team, visit their website, click on DONATE, and enter a team member's name.

Team in Training, Westborough Team Members

Auburn: Angela Formica

Clinton: Cindy Ortega, Karen Ortega, Sarah Reardon

Franklin: Maria Calabrese, Jacob Eknaian, Betsy Pielocik

Hudson: Wendy Hewitt

Leominster: Greg Gravelle*

Milford: Cabiria Mazzuchelli, Pamela Mazzuchelli, Steve Mazzuchelli, Rebecca Mazzuchelli, Lauren Lombardi

North Attleboro: Susan Robitaille

Princeton: Lisa Dutton-Swain

Shrewsbury: Maria Rydelek*

Waltham: Sarah Cruise

Westborough: Eddlyne Amilcar*, Erin Hightower

West Boylston: Shannon Symkiewicz

*Training for the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

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