Jake-athon: Virtual Boston Marathon Relay
Donation protected
Jake Kennedy has supported Boston-area families in need for more than 30 years. Jake never considers “no’ as an answer to someone in need. He just finds a way to help and make everyone involved feel hopeful and empowered.
Jake and his wife Sparky founded Christmas in the City in 1989 and have brought joy to tens of thousands of families experiencing homelessness and poverty. They’ve also brought the joy of giving to the thousands of volunteers who run the annual party, and the other programs and events throughout the year that have grown up around the organization.
Jake is also a healer, an extraordinary physical therapist, He has brought comfort to an untold number of patients recovering from injuries and surgery, enabling them to return to their normal activities. He is a national leader in orthopedic and running injuries, and has served as the team trainer for the Run for Research. Literally thousands of runners have Jake to thank for getting them across their marathon finish line.
Jake is also a runner (that's putting it mildly). He has run 37 Boston marathons. 37!
Late last year Jake was diagnosed with ALS.
The disease has been merciless, and Jake now requires 24/7 professional in-home care which insurance is not yet covering – and will never cover fully. This round-the-clock care is above and beyond the love and care provided by Sparky and their children. Their home also required major renovations to adapt to Jake’s unique needs for safety and access.
The Goal
To honor Jake's love of running, we are putting together a relay team of FOJs (Friends of Jake) to run a Virtual Boston Marathon on Jake's behalf on Sunday, September 13th: The Jake-athon, his 38th Boston Marathon.
In order to cover the anticipated costs for home health care through the fall, we're are asking FOJs to commit to raising a total of $50,000 by running a half mile (and raising $500) or running a full mile (and raising $1,000). The course will be 26.2 miles from Jake's former home in Scituate to the Kennedy Brothers Physical Therapy office on Franklin street in Boston....a course Jake has run many times.
If you're a Friend of Jake, please consider running a half or full mile in the Jake-athon and raising funds along the way.
If you're not a runner, please donate to the Friends of Jake runners on this page and show Jake, Sparky and the whole Kennedy family that we are all with them and love them. We know these are challenging times, but every dollar counts and time is of the essence. All funds collected will go directly to Jake and Sparky Kennedy, as such any donation is not tax deductible.
If you're not able to donate financially, we ask you to cheer on the runners on Sunday September 13th. A course map will be posted on this site and we'd love to have a rooting section at each half mile marker!
If you want to sign up as a Friends of Jake runner, cheer on the runners or make a donation by check, please email Mike Toomey at [email redacted] for more details.
Please share the link to this site with your networks and please get the word out on your social media channels! Use the hashtag #LetsHelpJake
And just as important, please post messages and comments. They will be shared with Jake, and will help strengthen the Kennedy family.
Jake and his wife Sparky founded Christmas in the City in 1989 and have brought joy to tens of thousands of families experiencing homelessness and poverty. They’ve also brought the joy of giving to the thousands of volunteers who run the annual party, and the other programs and events throughout the year that have grown up around the organization.
Jake is also a healer, an extraordinary physical therapist, He has brought comfort to an untold number of patients recovering from injuries and surgery, enabling them to return to their normal activities. He is a national leader in orthopedic and running injuries, and has served as the team trainer for the Run for Research. Literally thousands of runners have Jake to thank for getting them across their marathon finish line.
Jake is also a runner (that's putting it mildly). He has run 37 Boston marathons. 37!
Late last year Jake was diagnosed with ALS.
The disease has been merciless, and Jake now requires 24/7 professional in-home care which insurance is not yet covering – and will never cover fully. This round-the-clock care is above and beyond the love and care provided by Sparky and their children. Their home also required major renovations to adapt to Jake’s unique needs for safety and access.
The Goal
To honor Jake's love of running, we are putting together a relay team of FOJs (Friends of Jake) to run a Virtual Boston Marathon on Jake's behalf on Sunday, September 13th: The Jake-athon, his 38th Boston Marathon.
In order to cover the anticipated costs for home health care through the fall, we're are asking FOJs to commit to raising a total of $50,000 by running a half mile (and raising $500) or running a full mile (and raising $1,000). The course will be 26.2 miles from Jake's former home in Scituate to the Kennedy Brothers Physical Therapy office on Franklin street in Boston....a course Jake has run many times.
If you're a Friend of Jake, please consider running a half or full mile in the Jake-athon and raising funds along the way.
If you're not a runner, please donate to the Friends of Jake runners on this page and show Jake, Sparky and the whole Kennedy family that we are all with them and love them. We know these are challenging times, but every dollar counts and time is of the essence. All funds collected will go directly to Jake and Sparky Kennedy, as such any donation is not tax deductible.
If you're not able to donate financially, we ask you to cheer on the runners on Sunday September 13th. A course map will be posted on this site and we'd love to have a rooting section at each half mile marker!
If you want to sign up as a Friends of Jake runner, cheer on the runners or make a donation by check, please email Mike Toomey at [email redacted] for more details.
Please share the link to this site with your networks and please get the word out on your social media channels! Use the hashtag #LetsHelpJake
And just as important, please post messages and comments. They will be shared with Jake, and will help strengthen the Kennedy family.
Fundraising team: Friends of Jake (31)
Mike Toomey
Organizer
Scituate, MA
Jake Kennedy
Beneficiary
Wendy Lennon
Team member
Nancy MacDonald
Team member
Bob Turnan
Team member
Jenny Ross
Team member