Michael Dunleavy 5K Walk/Race Helps Fight Cancer

In 2002 eight-year-old Michael Dunleavy sat in the sun in front of his family's summer home selling lemonade for 25 cents a cup.

At the time Michael was struggling with cancer. An inoperable brain tumor diagnosed that spring had led his parents to three medical centers looking for help. They decided on the aggressive radiation and chemotherapy offered by the Massachusetts General Hospital.

By summer Michael had seen many sick children at MGH. When his father asked what he would do with the money he made Michael said that he would give it to charity to help fight cancer.

After Michael passed on, the teachers at the , the administrators, employees and friends who knew Michael and his family organized the first cancer fundraising walk/race in 2003.

Michael's best friend was Brian Mullin. When Mullin was in fifth grade he and his classmates started the pre-race car wash fundraiser. Michel's third grade teacher, Kerry Brideur, helped the class set up a lemonade stand.

These contributions are a tradition now.

Every year Michael's family and friends read stories about friendship to all VO classes. They read The Lemonade to the older students. The book about a fifth grade girl diagnosed with leukemia, tells how her teacher and classmates help her through the illness and learn how to make lemonade because of her disease.

"We believe that Michael's strength and his love of helping others is being fulfilled through the walk and all the related activities when the community comes together," said Toni Dunleavy, Michael's mother.

Kim Mullin does an outreach campaign.

Each year she talks to elementary students about friendship in the context of Michael's loss. 

"The emphasis is on the positive," said Mullin. "And the children really get it. One kindergarten boy exclaimed, 'People are helping and they're keeping the boy's memory alive.' They see that they can make a difference and they do." 

On Saturday, April 9, the annual car wash and lemonade sale takes place at the Vinson-Owen School from 9:30 a.m. to noon. It would have been Michael’s 17th birthday.

And on Sunday, April 10 the Ninth Annual Michael Dunleavy 5K Walk/Race will take place. The fundraiser goes to help raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Fund at MGH for Children.

Registration for the race/walk ends at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, and the race starts at 1:00 p.m., while the walk begins at 1:15 p.m. The last day to register online is Wednesday, April 6 at 11:59 p.m.

The event comes complete with food, raffles, music and prizes for the fastest runners in each of the age categories.

As many as 400 runners are expected to participate. Michael's parents and four siblings will don official yellow T-shirts and help out.

The Michael Dunleavy Foundation, created in 2002 is the 501 (c) (3)  charity that manages the funds. It also contributes to a sister foundation in Doolin, County Clare, Ireland which contributes to the Irish Cancer Society, as well as giving funds to the Sunshine Camp in Casco, Maine which serves seriously ill children and their families.

For more information on the race or contributing, or to register online log on to www.michaeldunleavy.com.