Neighbor News
Progeria Research Foundation Hosts 18th Annual Race for Research
PRF Ambassador and avid runner, Meghan Waldron, also turns 18 this year
PEABODY, MA – On Saturday, September 7, 2019, The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) will celebrate two milestones: PRF’s 18th Annual International Race for Research set in downtown Peabody, MA, as well as a belated recognition of PRF Ambassador Meghan Waldron’s 18th birthday, which occurred in March. Meghan ran track and cross-country in high school, and will be running the race again this year. Hosted by PRF’s long-time title sponsor, North Shore Bank, this signature event includes a 5K road race and a 2-mile fun walk, to kick off the city’s famous International Festival celebration the following day. All race proceeds will go to PRF’s mission: to discover treatments and the cure for Progeria and its aging-related disorders, including heart disease. Progeria is a fatal, rapid aging disease that afflicts children, who die of heart disease at an average age of 14 years.
The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) was founded in 1999 by the family of Sam Berns in response to the complete lack of attention to, and progress being made in, Progeria research. Sam’s mother, PRF’s Medical Director Dr. Leslie Gordon, and his Aunt Audrey grew up in Peabody, and the race was Sam’s favorite event (Sam passed away in 2014 at the age of 17).
“We are so grateful for 18 years of support from our local community,” said Audrey Gordon, President and Executive Director of PRF. “And I could not be more proud of Meghan, our Ambassador, for all she has accomplished. As a child, she was among the first to be treated in our first clinical trial in 2007. This year, she turned 18, graduated high school, traveled across Europe for a month, and will be starting college in the fall. She’s a great athlete and an inspiration to us all.”
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Race day registration opens at 7:45am, with a start time of 9:00am at Leather City Commons, 53 Lowell Street, Peabody. Registration is $25 for the 5k run ($30 starting August 1), $20 for the walk ($25 starting August 1), and $10 for children ages 3-10 (walk or run). Race for Research T-shirts will be provided to all registrants who sign up before August 17. Children under 3 and leashed dogs are free.
Awards will be given to top finishers in eight age categories for the 5K race and all kids. Participants can also look forward to a post-race party with free refreshments. Computerized timing for runners is provided by North Shore Timing. The race is USATF-sanctioned, and the course is well marked along the entire route with signs, police staffing and volunteers from Peabody High’s ROTC class. Racers are encouraged to register in advance online at http://www.prfroadrace.org or by calling 978-535-2594.
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“It’s pretty hard not be moved by The Progeria Research Foundation and the work that they do,” said Christopher Pesce, Vice President of Marketing at North Shore Bank. “Their passion and determination to find a cure for this fatal disease is inspirational. We’re thrilled to once again be the title sponsor of this great event.”
About The Progeria Research Foundation
Over the course of PRF’s 20-year history, the field of Progeria research has gone from obscurity to a treatment that is giving the children stronger hearts and longer lives, as well as an abundance of knowledge of this disease process. But a treatment is not a cure, and we still have much work to do to save these extraordinary children. Today, PRF continues to be the only organization in the world solely dedicated to finding the cure for Progeria. The organization fills a void, taking these children out of the background where they had been for more than 100 years and putting them and Progeria at the forefront of scientific efforts. For more information and to donate to PRF, please visit www.progeriaresearch.org.
About North Shore Bank
North Shore Bank is a full-service community bank based in Peabody, Massachusetts and serving the personal and business banking needs of the North Shore, eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Established in 1888, the bank operates out of twelve area offices, located in Beverly, Danvers, Merrimac, Middleton, Peabody, Salem, Saugus and Newton, New Hampshire. Call (877) 712-7000 to be connected to any office, or visit www.northshore-bank.com to learn more about the bank’s products and services.