Burlington Teens Walk for Teen LIGHT on Saturday June 6

Hundreds of 8th graders from the Marshall Simonds Middle School have made it their mission to help teens dealing with mental health issues.

They will hold their seventh annual Teen LIGHT walk-a-thon on Saturday, June 6. The 5k walk will begin on the Burlington town common and include activities following the 5K. Proceeds will benefit Burlington Youth and Family Services.

On-site registration will take place at 9:30 a.m. on the common. The 5K will be from 10-11 a.m. with activities on the common until 12:30 p.m.

The event will include entertainment, raffles, snacks, and activities. Scheduled performances include student bands and singers, girls’ hip hop dancers, and divas dancers. MSMS student, Mikey Fazio, will be DJ’ing. MSMS student, Nathan Patz, will perform with New Skool Assassins, a renowned street dance group that has competed nationally and internationally.

The walk fee is $10 for children and teens, $20 for adults, and $30 for families.

This is Teen LIGHT’s seventh year in Burlington. Teen LIGHT is a ground-breaking community service program that develops young leaders and encourages students to transform the lives of struggling teens. In its first six years in Burlington, Teen LIGHT raised approximately $70,000 to benefit teens dealing with depression, addiction, abuse, bullying, cancer, autism, and poverty. In response to the question, “What would you do to change the world?” this year’s Teen LIGHT group in Burlington is raising awareness and money to support teens dealing with mental health issues. Teen LIGHT participants have received several awards and honors over the years including JFK Library Make A Difference awards, a MCSP-NE Youth Award, and ambassadorships with Governor Patrick’s Project 351. In the words of former Teen LIGHT leader Michaela Mazure: “An idea that begins as a question can turn into a project that can change the world.”

This year’s business sponsors include A.W. Chesterton Company, A Whole Bunch Flower Market, Bamboo, Barnes and Noble, Del Frisco’s Grille, Flatbread Company, ipizza, John Mantia & Sons, Keurig, Party Central, Platinum Wealth Partners, Qdoba Mexican Grill, RCB Design, Steve Nugent’s Karate Institute, Tavern in the Square, The Bancroft, The Chateau, Tuscan Kitchen and Used Book Superstore.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Teen LIGHT or obtaining information regarding past and upcoming events, please contact Cheryl Mantia at mantia@bpsk12.org.