Tommy's Run for a Reason Draws Crowd to Algonkian

This past Saturday, Algonkian Regional Park was alive with the sounds of runners' feet pounding the pavement and children's laughter in the air. The sweet smells of Carolina Brother's BBQ, a fresh spring breeze and the energy of participants rounded out a great day for a very special cause. For the third consecutive year, Tommy's Run for a Reason raised money for the post-infancy SIDS research and the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood program, while celebrating the life of Tommy Marshall, who unexpectedly passed away May 11, 2008, at the age of 2. 

The family-friendly event offered a 5K run, a 2K walk, pony rides, BBQ, games, crafts, a raffle, a silent auction and support for a local family who faces a difficult weekend every year on Mother’s Day.  “Tommy’s Run” was an event that Tommy himself surely would have loved to attend and the Marshall family goes above and beyond to put on a festival that honors their son’s memory in a spectacular way.

“It’s our labor of love,” said Tommy’s mother, Beth Marshall.

Approximately five hundred people attend the event each year. Erika Mawn, who comes down to the race from Cape Cod each year, said that the event offers a great “support system for the Marshall family.”  Mawn, who grew up with Beth Marshall, said that her sister has been through a similar experience and she believes that Tommy’s Run for a Reason is for a “good cause,” because the money goes to helping families cope with post-infancy SIDS.

John Cassidy, a personal friend of the Marshalls who also owns Top Kick Martial Arts, supports the event as a sponsor every year.

“We try to stay connected with the community and this is a community-oriented event,” Cassidy said.

SUDC, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1999 to provide information, advocacy, support and research for parents who have lost a child and have no answers. Several years ago one of the members of SUDC started Run for a Reason, and due to its success, SUDC decided to adopt the race as its flagship fundraiser. Families across the country who have lost children to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, post-infancy sponsor their own Runs for a Reason.

Jason and Jessica Schneider, who brought their two children and attended the event for the first time, heard about the event from a friend and wanted to support the Marshall family.

“The running trail and the kids’ activities are so nice,” Jason Schneider said. Jessica agreed, adding, “Algonkian Park is a great setting for this.”

The Marshall family couldn’t agree more and are already working on plans for the 4th Annual Tommy’s Run for a Reason.