One Fund Run/Walk Saturday to Benefit Marathon Bombing Victims

Peabody residents Lisa Verrico and Harry “HAP” Pratt were among the thousands of runners eager to hit the streets of Boston for Marathon Monday.

Verrico says they rode the Gilly's Athletic Club team bus that morning from Topsfield down to Hopkinton for the start of the 117th Annual Boston Marathon on April 15.

"The bus was full of energetic, inspirational, positive people," Verrico recalled.

Both Verrico and Pratt were among the runners when each of the two blasts occurred at the finish line, transforming a joyous day into pandemonium as Copley Street became a blood-soaked battlefield.

Verrico says they quickly connected by phone to ensure they were both OK as well as their families.

In the days afterward, they vowed to help the victims by organizing their own charitable event to raise money for the One Fund Boston. That turned into a 6-mile run and 3-mile walk scheduled for this weekend in Peabody.

The run/walk will get underway Saturday, Nov. 16 at a 10 a.m. The start and finish are at Lt. Ross Park.

The course is along the Peabody Independence Greenway. Online registration ends Friday at 11 a.m., but you can also register the day of between 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. The registration fee is $20.

Contact Harry Pratt at 978-578-0634 or harry@ultramarketingusa.com or Lisa Verrico at 978-979-2896 or lisaverrico@yahoo.com with any questions.